CONDITIONS IN EUROPE

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16030, 22 January 1920, Page 5

CONDITIONS IN EUROPE

'WAR-DEVASTATED AREAS.

RECONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS.

After an absence of 12 mov&ba Mr and Mrs H. D. Robertson, of Auckland, returned to Auckland by the Maheno this week. They spent some time in Britain, visited Scandinavia, France and Belgium, and travelled for three months in America.

Discussing his tour, Mr Robertson, who was secretary to the joint committee of the Red Cross organisation in Auckland, said that the great spectacle he witnessed was the peace celebrations in London, the march of the Allied troops being a most memorable event. He had been struck with the reception which the crowds accorded the colonial detachments as they passed. -Referring to bis visit, to France, he said that in the Somme region some 60,000 Poles were employed on the work of reconstruction. Little wa_s being attempted, however, in or around the ruination which was once the city of Ypres. It appeared that the city and its environs were beyond repair, and the district would probably be left as a grim reminder of war and its devastation. The great German gun which, from a few miles outside Ostend, had bombarded Dunkirk, and which had, been captured intact, was attracting many sight-seers. “We were rather astonished to find in Belgium the signs of prosperity,” said Mr Robertson . “Brussels is the gayest capital we visited. Foodstuffs are in abundance, and. the only sign in that city of the German occupation is that all the copper fittings are missing from the Palace of Justice.” Mr Robertson indicated that the war had sat lightly upon the great hulk of the Belgian people, and he slated that, he noticed a marked lack of appreciation of what the Allies did for Belgium. The Belgians did not seem to realise that the Allies had saved them, and perhaps, speaking generally, they did not care. Ho had noticed a tendency on the part n[ the people to blame the Allies for all the damage caused by air THE LABOUR TROUBLES,;

Speaking of the. Labour troubles which arc hampering reconstruction in many countries, Mr Robertson sairl that conditions were just as bad in America as in England, and were likely to be worse. America suffered in this respect because of its partial lack of nationality. Th« feeling in England had been rather pessimistic, but the traditional characteristics were as strong a* ever and a happier attitude now prevailed, and it was hoped that matters would return (o normal in eighteen months or two years. English standard products had not losi, their reputation, and in Scandinavia English goods were always in demand. The largest American manufacturers were not apparently preparing for a great export trade, their energies being fixed on American needs, which were tremendous. Only on the West Coast of America, where business was mainly of the agency order in tbe absence of extensive manufacturing, were people talking of export trade. It was more likely that Can aril an manufacturers would try to build up an export trade. Extravagance showed no signs of abating in the Old Land, the reason being that there were so many people with suddenly-acquired wealth who did not know its value or how 4o spend it. It was perhaps not entirely a bad thing, for it would absorb the surplus money which, people were anxious to throw about, and normal conditions would return all the sooner.

PROFITEERING IN, BRITAIN. ; The cost of living “was higher in London than anywhere he had been, and undoubtedly it was due to profiteering. Notwithstanding the rationing of certain foodstuffs, matters appeared to he chaotic. Cargoes were congested at the docks, and, there appeared to be people who had accumulated large slocks of foodstuffs, notwithstanding the control, and they were selling at high prices. Mr Robertson mentioned that a dinner which had cost four shillings in Adelaide would have cost £1 or £1 5s if the variety and quality could have been obtained, which was doubtful. Congested transport facilities had sometimes to do with, the matter in England. One Englishman had offered the excuse that the people wore still war-weary —• that the wheels of industry were running slow, not through any deliberate Intent, but simply through lack of energy due to the war. Considering the price paid for wool under the Imperial Requisition, it was scandalous the price at which woollen goods were being sold in Britain.

Referring to Red Cross matters* Mr Robertson said the New Zealand organisation and its work stood high in the estimation of the Homo people, the hospitals it supplied being highly commended. The great organisation would bo continued in peace, and its field would be yidely extended.

“My advice to intending travellers,” concluded Mr Robertson, “is not to travel at present if they can avoid it, on account of the congestion which prevails everywhere, and tho discomforts one has to put up with.’*