CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16873, 12 August 1926, Page 8

CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND.

FEELINGS TOWARDS DOMINIONS. SUGGESTION? FOB DEVELOPMENT. “Mv summing up of the whole situation is that for a man who lias to earn Ids own living in any capacity New Zealand is far and away the better country to live in. If be lias great wealth, and money is no object. Ihen there is no heller country to live in than England, for there no door will be shut to him.” This view was expressed to a Dominion reporter by Mr (i. S. Amos, who for seven years was the London buyer for Bin firm of Boss and Glendining. Ltd., and has now returned lo Wellington lo set up in business on his own account. While in England tie also represented the Dominion of New Zealand on the Dominions Committee of the League of Nations under the chairmanship of Lord Buxton.

“My first impression of Wellington on my arrival after seven years absence from" it in England is one of wonderment at its remarkable growth,” said Mr Amos. "It is really astonishing to see the great number of huge buildings that have and are being erected. Secondly, I was impressed by the large number of motor ears of high power in the city. London is full of motor cars, hut lliry arc all of Ihe lowpowered variety. Thirdly, New Zealand is just as up to date in its fashions as Ihe people are in England. This fact i attribute in the shortening of the distance between New Zealand and England by means of improved shipping facilities and Ihe great advance in wireless and cable communication. from Ihe lime our boat left Southampton till Hie time it entered Iho Wellington Reads we never missed a single day in lie matter of receiving English and Continental news from the great wireless station at Rugby. As far as knowing what the Old World is doing the one-time isolation of 13,000 miles has disappeared. Jt would lie strange indeed if such factors as these did not have a great effect on the life of the people of New Zealand. Since my return t have been looking at Ihe retail shops, and I am impressed by the fact that they are handling a bet Hr class of goods, and, having regard lo the heavy Ireight charges on llie imported article, their retail prices compare very favourably with the prices for the same articles in London. I have seen no instances in which one with a knowledge ol Ihe articles being retailed here, could say the public here are being victimised. "As regards the conditions in England, the general strike, although very serious, has had a beneficial effect on the industrial situation. It lias cleared Ihe air of a lot of unrest and lias restored a more hopeful and optimistic tone in business circles Ilian lias prevailed during Hie last few years. Industrial workers have settled down to hard work, as they realise that ‘more production’ is the best horse to back and is sure to return a dividend. Inter-Imperial Trade.

"It is impossible to remain long in England and not be convinced that there is a very strong feeling for interimperial trade right throughout the whole country. Every business centre holds Empire shopping weeks. New Zealand produce is widely advertised and displayed in shop windows. Certain firms have devoted whole windows to New Zealand produce. One sees New Zealand lamb suitably labelled in shops throughout the whole of England. Want to do Business. Englishmen want, more ttian ever, to do business witli New Zealand, but some find it hard to understand why, while llie overseas Dominions are clamouring for ■ Imperial preference for their produce, they are, at Hie same time, adding such high duties lo the English manufactured goods they im.port. One can always use Hie argument that whatever duties are put on the English article higher duties are always pul on Hie - foreign article. Hut ihe English manufacturers always feel that what the overseas producer lias lo pay for his imported goods Hie higher price it is necessary for him to obtain for his produce in England. It is ttie commencement of the vicious circle, in which high prices are not always advantageous to the producer, or high wages advantageaus to the consumer. Also, if through prohibitive tariffs manufactured goods are barred from the Dominions, and the manufacturers lose those markets, it means the British working man has no money to spend on Dominion-pro-duced foodstuffs. It is impossible, after living in England and being brought into daily contact with the points of view of Hie manufacturers, and also Hie workmen, not lo arrivve at the conclusion that in many cases it would he much better for Hie Dominion to concentrate on a more intensive production or their primary products and leave Hie manufacturing of goods to those countries most suited to Dial part of production, and that arc much heller equipped for it. English manufacturers point out that by reason of her distance from paying export markets, and her own very limited population, New Zealand can never lie a manufacturing country. To ho Hint 10-day demands mass production, for only hy that means, and llie certainly of disposing of llie slufl so manufactured, rail she hope lo succeed in her object, it is also pointed out — and one is not tong in England without realising its truth —that the more British goods are shipped lo New Zealand the more can New Zealand produce be bought and consumed in England hy Hie British working man, liecause the necessity for manufacturing for larger markets means more employment for the people at Home. The opinion at Home, is tfiat Hie Empire can certainly lie self-supporting, conlingent upon Hie colonies producing what they are best fitted to produce. Such a distribution of energies would put money into Hit) pockets of Brilisli workmen by virtue of increased employment, and render them potential, and, indeed, actual, purchasers of Hie increased export productivity uf foodstuffs and raw materials.' Tins necessity of dispensing with duties, except for revenue purposes, would permit the English manufactured article lo lie sold at a much lower price Ilian is now possible. English feeling at Home is that by some such scheme as this, a process of co-operation, both countries would become even more prosperous. The advantage of leaving other countries to produce Unit which they are must fitted lo produce is realised by England in Hie mailer of cheap toys. Knowing full well that she cannot make toys as cheaply as Germany, stie leaves Hie industry to that nation. There is no bad feeling about it. it is merely a practical dciuoiistralion of llie desirability of the distribution of labour in our modern world. Result of Tariffs. Mr Amos instanced Hie motor-car industry as a case where, because the tariffs prevents foreign countries competing in the. English market, capitalists from those countries have erected factories in England and are employing Brilisli workmen. An American firm lias also set up iis factories in Hie hosiery manufacture line. He also stated that it is llie day of llie .Continued at foot of next column.) ,

big stores in the Old Country. They make their enormous profits not by increasing prices, hut by increased efficiency, a better organised staff, and the elimination of waste and overlapping. Indeed, these large organisations may be said to be benefiting the public and not robbing them, as is the case with so many combines. A fine tribute to Sir James Allen, the late High Commissioner for New Zealand, was paid by Mr Amos. “Sir James Allen was extremely well thought of in London,” he said, “and he will be greatly missed. He lias set a great example to all New Zealand in upholding the honour and dignity of this Dominion. In all that lie did lie set a very high standard, and lie made it a great privilege at Home to be a New Zealander.” Four pounds a week, Mr Amos thought, was a comfortable living wage for a working man in England Most of ttie factory hands were being paid by piece work. Some who have not got over the easy money-making of the war years, although they could ram £5 a week, knock off when they have earned £l. This stale of affairs is fast remedying itself since the general strike. Politics. “In the realm of politics,” said Mr Amos, "Mr Stanley Baldwin is thought very highly of among all parties. His conduct during U\e strike created a very favourable impression. liis organisation to cope with Hie strike was wonderful. After the first day there was practically no chaos. Even the transport facilities in London far exceeded the requirements. The conduct of the public was simply wonderful. Mr Baldwin is regarded as the moral factor in the present Government, and lie is the pivot around whom the others move. Lord Birkenhead is looked on as the brains of the show. Winston Churchill is the surprise packet of the Conservative Party. Mr Thomas, of the Labour Party, is looked upon as a great Imperialist, and is a favourite with all. parties. Lord Buxton. Sir Austen Chamberlain, Ormsby-Gore, Colonel Amery, and Sir Philip Cunliffc-Lister, are all very able men with a great ambition to foster Empire trade. Days of Teams Numbered.

It was observed by Mr Amos that the day of Irumcars in England was numbered. Motor-bus competition was becoming altogether too keen. The Puses were faster, more convenient; and they could take more varied and shorter routes. Thu railways also were, suffering grcally from motor-lorry competition. Many Arms in Urn Midlands and Hie North of England dispensed altogether with Hie train service, and utilised their own lor.ry service. They would load lip and travel to London "by night along the most perfect roads. The price of building sections was also a matter which came within Mr Amos's purview, and his comparison was not altogether favourable to Wellington from the point of view of sweet reasonableness. Before leaving for England seven years ago he disposed of a building section in Seatoun for £250. He was assured its value, to-day was £4OO. lie purchased a seelion of equal size in Holders Green, a new and desirable suburb, eight miles from Hie heart of London, and with a three-minute train service by two lines, as well as trams and buses, for £ Dm. Houses also are cheaper in London Ilian in New Zealand. It is, however, almost impossible to rent houses there, for I here, is still a great shortage of them, lo suit the man of moderate means.