ENGLAND AND EUROPE.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17836, 8 October 1929, Page 10

ENGLAND AND EUROPE.

CONTRAST IN CONDITIONS

UNEMPLOYMENT ON CLYDE. Mr Alec Robertson, superintending engineer of the Otago Harbour Board, who has returned to Dunedin from the Clyde after having seen to the construction of the board's new dredge, said that on tile Clyde there were far more shipbuilding yards than there were ships to build. Competition from the Continent was very tierce, and labour was in excellent supply. Industrial England was in a bad way, 11,250,000 people being on the dole, said Mr Robertson. England had 12,000,000 100 many people. Work of any description was hard to obtain, wages were low, and the cost of living was high. “New Zealand is to be preferred every time to England and Scotland,” he said.

"Scotland is no place for a white man to live in, because of the conditions. Engineers an-d turners get £2 J7s 6d a week, and labourers from 35s to 28s a week. They cannot live, they only exist. Roast beef costs 2s a lb. That is only one instance of the high cost of foodstuffs. Yet, on the other hand, there is a tremendous show of wealth. It is unevenly distributed.” Every square yard of Belgium was under cultivation, said Mr Robertson. The development was astonishing. Men, women and children cultivate! the ground from morning lo night, growing foodstuffs for London. In England little cultivation was seen. The country appeared to lie a great pleasure ground, containing nothing hut deer parks and golf links. Holland and Belgian workers were following the 54-hour week, as against England’s 38 hours, and the workers received lid an hour, as compared with Is 3d in England. Yet the cost of living was cheaper in Continental countries.