NEW ZEALAND IS BEST COUNTRY IN WORLD

Chronicle (Levin), 19 July 1947, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND IS BEST COUNTRY IN WORLD

Mr. K. Shaw Gives His Observations From Trip Abroad That New Zealand was the best country in the world, -was the opinion of Mr. K.. Shaw, after his return from a business trip to America, England and Scotland. "After seeing many English and Amer-ican towns much the same size as Eevin, I can qnly say that this town tops them all," he added.

Travelling all the way by air, Mr. Shaw went first to America and then to England ahd Scotland. "I: found lime to visit my home town, i Inverness, Scotland. This was my third trip to my home country, and I have never seen England in a worse state as regards the food situation." In reply to a question concerning the state of New Zealand food when it reached England, Mr. Shaw said: "I saw hardiy any New Zealand food in the shops in Britain. I was told that it was going to the starved peoples of Europe. The only substantial rrfeal I had in London was when I had the good luck to get aaNew Zealand lamb chop. In Scotland there is always a lot of Argenline lamb to be had, but it is very fatty and does not have a very nice taste." Asked how the work of cleanin.g up the bomb damage in England was progressing Mr. Shaw said that in some places the rubble had been cleared away, but for the most part it was just piled back into the sections. The town which was hit the worst was Birmingham. As it was an industrial town, Birmingham was one of the main coneentrations of the German raids. "To quote the residents, Birmingham was well 'done over.' However, the population is quite cheerful," he said. Government Blamed Mal-administration by the Gov-' ernment was the root of the food crisis, said Mr. Shaw. "Had Mr. Churchill been the Prime Minister things might have been different. As far as England is concerned ihey should have put Mr. Churchill back to 'finish the job.' If he couldn't have made them finish the job he would have bluff ed them into it. "In the north of Scotland I saw hundreds of bags of potatoes, which the Government had bought, going rotten in the sacks. As a comparison there is not a potato to be had in the south of England." It was Mr. Shaw's opinion that there was too much food going to Europe. While he was in London Mr, Shaw saw two of the "Britain Can

Make It" exhibitions. "The Englisb Government. is going all out for exports and starving the population of their industrial needs in the process," he said. "There has not been a cup on sale in London for a long time. However, I had no difficuliy in ordering some Ehglisb china for rny firm." American Larders Full Before going to England Mr Shaw spent some time in America

He found the Americans with full larders and plenty of money. "I have never seen so many cars in all my life," he said. "It was like race day at Trentham all the time. Nearly every family 'seems to have ' - at least two cars." T-he popular opinion in America • was that 'there would be ano.her war soon. Most people .considered that it would be with Russia. . "While I was in Los Angeles .there was a scare a'bout the flying saucers which had been seen in the sky." The papers had given them big headlines for a long time. One had crashed a few miles from the hotel where Mr. Shaw was staying. "While I am on the subject of papers, I would like to say ihat I did not see a paper that could ccmpare with our New Zealand ones." A dozen pairs of nylon stockings had cost 22 dollars, he said. This was approximately £4 11s 6d in New Zealand money'. "when I came into Auckland iu cost me £4 10s in duty." Things were very much dearer in America, commented Mr. Shaw. There was no food shortage and he had had no difficulty in getting what few orders he had for his stocks. Anything for a Price "I could buy anything — for a price," he said. The only thing that he could comment on was the way in which union officials paraded before a shop which employed a non-union worker. "I saw them parade all day with placards reading 'don't shop here.' " The political situation was not very good in America. he said. "Mr. Truman does notrseem to wield his power strongly enough." There were too many strikes and industriaTdisputes. Mr. Shaw ihinks he" was the last person to be able to get a toll call through to Canada before the recent telephone employees' strike. Speaking of his sightseeing tours, Mr. Shaw referred lo the huge orange groves in Los Angles. "There ' : are some 60,000 acres of orange , trees in this part of the country. ' There are oranges all the year ■ round. All along .the roads you can buy huge glasses of pure orange ' juice for a few cents." Mr. Shaw was shown over two i oil refineries. One, he said, would take almost a week to go over. At [ this one the oil was broken down ; until it was graded from the best ' petrol to a coarse oil, whiph was ' used instead of tar on the roads. " "Although I have seen all these L beautiful sights and the wonderful way America has progressed," concluded Mr. Shaw, "I still say . New Zealand is the best country in . the world."