TRAVEL IMPRESSIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15100, 22 November 1922, Page 4

TRAVEL IMPRESSIONS

PROGRESS IN AMERICA.

BRITISH MUNICIPAL ACTIVITY

Interesting comment, on progress overseas, more particularly in the United Slates of America a.nd in Great Britain, was made by Mr J. M. A. Holt, of Wellington, in the course of an interview with a Post representative. Mr Ilott has just returned from an extended trip through America,: Great Britain, the Continent and the East.

While impressed with the enormous development in the use of both manpower and machinery in the Stales, the New Zealander, has returned with an even greater impression of the tremendous empty spaces of. the country, and the room for gigantic growth in the future.- Whether-in the flush of prosperity the country is following altogether the best lines seems, from the visitor's -remarks, to be open to some doubt. Mr Ilolt spoke, for instance, of the many great universities and high schools lie saw —magnificent buildings magnificently equipped—but indicated That there might be ground for believing that the best return was not being secured for the money spent, and that better results might be expected from a system under which less money was spent on buildings and equipment and more on the actual essentials of education. Mr lip It lias come back convinced that the American system of government falls shod of the British. The Congress of America he considers possibly the most inaccessible government in the world, with all the weaknesses of the party system shown more clearly than elsewhere. The great point at present was whether America would take her place in international affairs, and opinions. One section predicted decadence similar to that of the Roman Empire following on the over-devel-opment of wealth, another expected an exceedingly militant imperialism, and yet a third'hoped-that America would lead the world to true ideals. Highways and Wireless.

Leaving the abstract, Mr Ilott said that until one ‘ reached England one was of opinion that there was nothing in the world to equal the roads of America. The main highways of America were perfect, but once the main highways were left, behind, American conditions could not compare with those of England. Mr Ilott motored many thousands of miles in England and could recollect very few instances of poor roads —even the [little-used lanes had good surfaces. But there was no doubt that the main highways in America approached the marvellous.

The radio craze lias seized the American firmly. "It seemed to me that almost every house was equipped with a wireless receiving set,” said Mr Ilott. “Why, when I was in Los Angeles the newspaper Examiner was giving a wireless receiving set to everyone sending in ten three-month subscriptions, while enterprising barbers in New York had established wireless sets which gave customers the news of the day while they secured their shaves or haircuts. One feels that ’there will be many problems for the wireless authorities in the future owing to this unchecked development, and that the English plan of dealing with the position more carefully will prove the better one in Ihe long run. But in this connection there Is one ’thing which requires attention. Going across the Pacific we received a daily wireless news service, but it was all from an American source. Ther® was nothing from a British origm, and one felt that this was a matter into which the Go\moments of the Empire should at ona>j look.” Municipal Putting Courses.

A phase of English life which impressed Mr Holt considerably was the activity being shown by municipalities in catering for the outdoor needs of the people. In particular, Mr Ilott spoke of the great number of municipalities which have put down golf courses and bowling greens. He said that in addition almost everywhere he went he found municipal putting greens in the parks in the centres of the cities. The plan was to charge twopence for a. putting round of 18 holes, and in one or two instances he had learned that the municipality at the end of the week presented a putter to the player returning the best slate. It was astonishing to see the queues of people waiting in the evening for a round on the municipal putting course. Incidentally the municipalities were finding the innovation revenue-producing; one local authority had made a clear profit, in one year of £750. Only a very small area' was required for the putting courses, and Mr Ilott expressed the opinion that the adoption of the scheme in New Zealand cities would be both popular and prolltable. The municipal bowling greens were also operating with prollt. Like most other recent visitors, Mr Ilott has returned with a great -admiration for the British business man. “He has been through an exceedingly bad time, and In most instances has lost a great deal of money,” said Mr Ilott. “but he has cut his losses and got down to bedrock, and this without complaining or whining. He is right out for business, and he realises that in the newer lands of Australia and New Zealand lie the greatest possibilities of development. New Zealand stands very high in the opinion of both business-and private circles. Businessmen predict a trade boom in England in 1923.”