A RETURNED COLONIST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9018, 18 March 1908, Page 5

A RETURNED COLONIST.

MR E. FEIST'S RECENT TOUR

AN ENJOYABLE AND INTEREST-

ING TRIP

Some, great factories visited —S i-Usficlory condition of the operatives—Some of the tourist resort* of the Cmtinenl — The Alpme railw iy —Municipal progress in Glasgow — PoneHu in. London -The uuemployed problem —Educatioii'il matters ma state of chaos —Dublin Exhibition and flo'se Fair—Flying visits to iwum lands —No country prefer ible to .\'etv Zealand

Mr Edwin Foist, of Mastertou, who has just returned from a visit to England, courteously granted au interview to a representative of the Wairarapa Daily Times, in which lie described liis tour.

Mr Feist left Auckland per tlio steamer Karamea, one of the Shaw, Savill aud Albiou Company's cargo boats, on March 531 st, 11)07. There were soventeeu passengers ou board on leaving the northern port, ami, as the vessel travelled via the Horn, the first stop was made at Monte Video, where seven more passengers joined the vessel. The next stopping place was Toueritt'e. after which the vessel proceeded direct to London, arriving in the Thames ou the U)th May. Mr Foist said that he was much impressed with the comfortableness of the cargo boat, and au excellent passage was made, aud one altogether free from auy inconvenience in the way of dirty weather. The only uupleasaut feature of the homeward voyage was that it was sometimes very cold, particularly when rounding Cape Horn. After remaining three days in London, Mr Feist auci his daughter, who accompanied him ou the tour, proceeded to Scotland. Tlioy spent fourteeu days in Edinburgh aud Glasgow, aud then proceeded to the North of Scotland, where three weeks were put in. Leaving Scotland, Mr and Miss Feist travelled to Ireland, via the Strauraer Lame route. The Giant's Causeway was visited, and iv this Mr Feist was immensely interested. There were no heavy seas ruuuiug, the time of the year being favourable for visiting the Causeway, and the sight, co use Mr Feist's words, was a magnificent aud splendid oue. In Belfast, whilst Mr Feist was making some purchases at Messrs Robinson aud Cleaver's, the well-known linen firm, lie mentioned that he was from Maorilaud. aud was at once invited to make a tour of inspection through the firm's factory. Of this he gladly availed himself, aud was greatly impressed with all he saw. Tlio operatives appeared to bo very contented, ami quite US well off as the working classes of the Dominion. Mr Feisc tried to get permission to go through one of the larger linen factories, bat was unable to do so. Travelling southwards, Dublin was the next place of interest to be visited, aud here Mr Feist was lm;ky enough to see the famous Dublin "Horse Fair, which is said to be tlio finest in the world, and attracts buyers from all countries. The Fair was a graud sight, aud some very fine animals were on view. Mr Feist also visited the Dublin Exhibition aud particularly inspected the New Zealand aud Canadian courts. The former contained some excellent exhibits from New Zealand, fairly representative of the products of the Dominion, and tiie man in charge was alive to his business. Mr Feist, however, was very much struck with the Canadian court, which had a really five display of all the cereals, butter and cheese and other agricultural products of the northern Dominion. Proceeding to Limerick, a visit of inspection was paid to a condensed milk factory, which employs about 500 hands, aud turns out a lot of canned milk, which is shipped to all parts of the world. This was the first condensed milk factory Mr Feist had seen, and lie was much struck with the vast, quantities of material turned out. Ho was greatly astonished at the quantity of butter, in pound pats, that the factory produced. Another branch of the factory was solely employed imnauut'aeturiijg chocolates aud other forms of soft lollies.

From Ireland Mr and Miss Feist journeyed as members of ;i party of conducted by tlio Frame tourists' excursion linn to Switzerland, the route from London being via Dover and Osteud, theuce par rail to Lucerne. They stayed at Lucerne for a week, which was spent in viewing the sights. The mountain was ascended by means of the alpine railway, which is much after the stylo of a lift, so steep is the track. The scenery of Lucerne and Ssvitzerland generally Mr Foist describes as the most magnificent met with in his tour. From Lucerne the party proceeded to Lugano, and from theuce several excursions were made to the Italian Lakes. Mr and Miss Feist visited Milan and inspected the Cathedral and the cemetery. The Cathedral is one of the finest in the world. in the cemetery there were many magnificent tombstones, costiug from £2000 to £5000 each. Returning from Switzerland, Paris was visite 1 where three days were spjnt in inspecting the various noted buildings. In Napoleon's tomb Mr Fmst was greatly interested, and the Notre Dame and other sights of the French capital were greatly admired. Leaving Paris for England, fourteen days were spent in Brighton aud then a tour of Sussex was made. Mr Feist went to see his native town of Framfleld, aud went into the house where he was born, aud though lie had not been near it since he was six or .seven years of age he could still remember it, aud noticed scarcely any great alteration in it. Reading was visited, and here Mr Feist saw the famous biscuit factory of Messrs Huntley and Palmer's, which employs 7000 hands aud turns out 200 tons of biscuits every day, three special trains being necessary to convey them away. There are nine partners in the firm, aud Mr Feist was told that after paying all expenses each member of the firm took a fabulous sum yearly as his share of the profits. At Bournemouth, in driving rouud, there were some one hundred and twenty halfacre sectious pointed out, each with a very nice residence built on it aud surrounded with shrubs aud gardens. None of these houses were let for less than £120 per annum. Returning northwards Christmas was spent at Preston, in Lancashire, where the factories of the great long cloth firm of Horrocks, Crewdson and Co. were visited. With these factories Mr Feist was remarkably impressed, and the tremendous number of operatives employed was a revelation. The workers all appeared well off, and he was informed that they earned good wages. Their condition certainly seemed to be quite as favourable as that of any class of workers in New Zealand.

Proceeding to Glasgow, Mr Feist had the honour to be present at luncheou with the Lord Provost of Glasgow, and here he met the Argentine Consul, and Mr J. L. Kelly, late editor of the New Zealand Times. Mr Feist also witnessed the business of the Town Council. The municipal buildings of Glasgow are very fine and cost close on £1,000,000. The tramway system, is as near perfect as can be devised, and altogether Glasgow is a go-ahead place, said Mr Feist. He also visited Edinburgh with which he was much impressed as a residential town, and for that purpose far pre-

■ferrod it to Glasgow. Railway travelling iv . Euglaud aud Scotland is excellent, and the third-class carriages between Loudou and Glasgow are very comfortable. From enquiries, ho learned that educatioual matters wore in a sad staie of chaos, but it was hoped that Sir H. Campbell Bauuermau's Bill, when passed, would do something which would be for the benefit of education. Iv Loudou Mr Feist said that he was greatly distressed to witness the poverty that existed. This was most noticeable iv the number of persons who were stand iug along tho streets eudoavourlug to sell boxes of matches aud hair pins and othor small articles. The parks of London during the daytime were filled with unemployed aud cho distress was evidently very acute. Speaking of the traffic arrangements iv London, Mr Feist said he was much impressed with tho tube railways. The ordinary street traffic was well regulated, though, at times, congested. Of the London police Mr Feist speaks iv terms of warm admiration. Au American visitor told Mr Feist that there was no finer police system iv the world than that of Loudou.

After all his tour, Mr Feist said that he was glad to get back to New Zealaud, aud he had not seeu auy place that ho would prefer to this couutry. Loudou was left, per P. aud O. s.s. Mooltau, ou January 3rd, aud after calliusr at Gibraltar, Port Said, Suez, Adeu, Colombo, Fremautlo, Adelaide aud Melbourne, Sydney was reached ou February 25th, oue day early