BURDENS.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18168, 5 November 1930, Page 6

BURDENS.

PRESS DELEGATE RETURNS. ? ENGLAND’S HIGH PRESTIGE. OVERCOMING HER DIFFICULTIES. COURAGE TO WIN THROUGH. A greatly enhanced opinion of Britain and the British race, of British prestige and British fair play is brought back by Mr. A. E. Manning, of Hamilton, from his seven months’ tour of Europe and America. Mr. Manning was one of the New Zealand delegation to the Empire Press Conference and from out of the maze of many things he saw, of the people he met and the. numerous speeches he heard, emerges a feeling of pride to be a Briton., The British Commonwealth of Nations lie regards as the greatest organisation in the world to-day. Addresses by Eminent Statesmen. .The Conference, Mr. Manning says, was the perfection ’Of organisation. Not one single hitc.h occurred, despite the fact that 96 delegates and their wives, from all parts of the Empirh, had to be entertained for a month. The doors of Britain were thrown open to' members, upon whom hospitality was showered. Delegates were privileged’ to hear addresses from some of Britain’s greatest men, including the Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Mr. Lloyd George, Earl Grey, the late Lord Thompson, Mr. W. Graham, president of the British Board of Trade, and many other eminent men.

Mr. Manning considers the address delivered by the late Lord Thompson the best lie heard. The late Minister for Air was a delightful man, highly cultured, who thoroughly understood his job. He held the interest of his audience for one and a-lialf hours, during which time he did not refer to a single note. His language was exquisite, his delivery delightful, and although the subject on which he spoke was highly technical, his audience listened throughout with rapt attention.

Mr. Manning describes Mr. Baldwin as a delightful personality. Deeply read, cultured' and gracious, his language was always well selected and he was a master in the choice of words. The speech by Mr. Ramsay MacDonald was the second best it was the speaker's privilege to listen to. It was scholarly, sane and concise, without a wasted.'word. Mr. MacDonald impressed him greatly with his sincerity and firmness of purpose. Brtain’s Tremendous Problems. The delegates to the Conference gained a fuller realisation of the tremendous problems with which Britain is faced. Not only has she her own internal worries and her own great economic difficulties, but she has the burdens of India, Egypt, Palestine and the Dominions to help to weigh her down, with all the additional work which her gigantic efforts towards disarmament and peace have imposed on her. The other delegates and he came away from the Conference and ! from their brief fraternisation with some of Britain’s leading statesmen and industrialists, feeling, however, that the courage and character of the British people would triumph even though the difficulties were so immense. “ Indeed,” said Mr. Manning in a brief interview on his return to Hamilton to-day, “ There is at the present moment a great revival of confidence and a resuscitation of trade in Britain.” The feeling’ which the delegates imbibed was that co-operation amongst the nations of the Empire was now more essential than ever it was and that the countries which formed the Commonwealth, outside of Britain, were the most fortunate and favoured in the world. The term secession was never so much as suggested by word or thought, “although," added Mr. Manning, “ I sometimes wondered what would become of any of the Dominions were they at any time to break away. Britain has been an excellent foster-mother to all of us." Unemployment at Root. Speaking of Britain’s economic troubles, Mr Manning considered unemployment to be at the root of all. The problem seemed to have baffled solution and to be getting worse. The people of Britain were hitching their hope's to some possible economic change and were eager to grasp at anything that would be likely to mitigate the evil of unemployment. The Empire Free Trade campaign fostered by Lord Beaverbrook was creating a great deal of interest, although politicians and leading commercial men did not appear to pay over much heed to it. There was a feeling amongst city men that the traditional fiscal policy of England should be changed, that the policy of safeguarding should be extended and that more attention should be paid to the development of agriculture. There was no doubt, observed the speaker, that Britain was over industrialised. She was also feeling the effects of the dumping by Russia and other foreign countries. In an industrial country like England it seemed essential to have some form of protection against the flooding of her markets with cheap foreign goods to the menace of her own industries, and even the Liberals, who had always been out and out free

traders, were now inclined to favour some sort of tariff. , However, England was very far from down and out. She had wonderful resources and amazing resourcefulness. Many of her industries were exceptionally well . organised, especially the great motor and machinery works. Mr Manning was in touch with one of the largest manufacturers of printing machinery in the world and found the firm had been working a double shift for more than twelve months. The dye industry of Britain had made great strides and was now getting its share of the world’s trade. There was, In fact, a revival of trade in many of Britain’s leading Industries. One that was very depressed, because it had been severely hit, was the textile industry. This was faced with serious competition, especially from Japan and other countries where a low standard of living and low wages prevailed. Rationalisation was taking place in many industries with a view to rehabilitating them. This apparent in shipping and on the Yorkshire coalfields. There was a strong movement towards shorter hours with a view to a wider distribution of work. Mr Manning was present at the House of Commons on several occasions. He gathered the Impression that the British Parliament was overweighted with services and there was a movement within the House of Commons itself to effect some alteration and improvement. With all. the heavy outside responsibilities claiming the attention of the statesman, the economic situation at Home did not appear to get the attention it should. Mr Winston Churchill had, in fact, put forward a proposal for a separate economic Parliament. Effect of the Dole. Questioned with regard to the effect of the dole on English life, Mr Manning said the dole was causing great concern. The unemployment fund had been overdrawn to the extent of nearly £50,000,000- The expenditure was exceeding income to lhe extent of £450,000 per week. .If continued unchecked, it must inevitably change the characteristics of the race. Mr Philip Snowden, the British Chancellor, in discussing Lhe problem,- said England’s fear was that £\e was producing a pauper Slate.' “Of course I can quite see that the dole, when first instituted, was‘a very necessary evil," added Mr Manning. “ Millions of men were returning from the war and the State was absolutely •bound to see that some provision was made for them. Had not some such relief been, given, it seems highly probable that England would have been plunged in revolution.” England’s prestige abroad stood higher than that of any other nation. Continental nations realised that Britain was actuated by high motives in all she did. They recognised the tremendous burdens she was carrying in war' debts and taxation and the stoical manner in which she bore them. They agreed that 'she* played fair and "the speaker was amazed, when, on the Continent, at the high regard in which England was held. Her integrity was regarded as beyond question and she was looked upon as the model nationGlories of Countryside. Mr Manning was enraptured with the glories of the English countryside. England, he said, was the most beautiful country he bad visited. Her ancient buildings breathed veneration and her rural scenery was delightful beyond words. The quaint villages,- the rustic winding lanes, the venerable churches and cathedrals, the wonderful cultivation, the hedgerows, the gardens, the woods and the wild llowers all helped to weave a spell over the visitor that would ever remain. As he drove down leafy lanes, past fields with their ripening crops of various hues, and through quiet peaceful villages that seemed of another world, be frequently remarked to himself that he now realised why the Englishman’s word was his bond. He felt that such an environment could not but leave its impress for good on the character of the people, and he was' sure the influence of these beautiful surroundings was largely responsible for the beauty of character that was the Englishman’s. Speaking directly of the people of England, he said It was difficult to describe their hospitality and charm. They were courtesy itself and always eager to oblige without thought of recompense. London grew upon Mr and Mrs Manning to such an extent that they found it most difficult to drag themselves from it. It was steeped in antiquity and its people were the most friendly in the world. The Londoner seemed to take a pride in' putting himself out to help the stranger and the London policeman was the finest type of law preserver and traffic regulator in the world. No matter how busy a policeman on point duty might be, he would put himself out to answer questions from and give directions, to the stranger. The same courtesy was to he found amongst all sections of the community, in the shops, offices, banks, post offices and in all the public services. The Englishman was civility itself. “If,” "added 'Mr. Manning, “you were to ask me which section 0f.,-the community was most deserving of a monument I should unhesitatingly say the English policeman.’ Orderly Crowds. Mr. Manning also had a word to say for English, crowds. They were the most orderly, good-humoured and fair-minded of any. He was present at two Test matches and it pleased him greatly to see the very fair spirit which prevailed. Although they realised that the “ ashes ” were doomed, the crowds never failed to applaud any meritorious play by an Australian. The dispersal of "the crowds, also, was a model of orderliness. The., same spirit prevailed in the queues'" outside theatres and other places. There was no rushing and pushing in an endeavour to sneak into somebody else’s place. Rather was'a ready apology forthcoming if by inadvertence some such tiling should happen. The visitor was pleased to not© tho very high standing In which New Zealand was held in Britain.

She was the most favoured of all the Dominions and he was told by Sir William Crawford, of the Empire Marketing Board, that New' Zealand could get anything from London that she asked for. A totally different sentiment prevailed towards Australia. Mr. and Mrs. Manning are pleased to be home again. They ‘were struck by the brightness of the town as they entered it last evening and said it was better illuminated, as a result of the community lighting, than most towns and cities they had visited on their Lour. “If it created such a favour-able-impression on us, who are used to the place, must it not leave an even more favourable one on the stranger?’’ concluded (Mr. Manning.