A PLETHORA OF MONEY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 59, 3 December 1919, Page 2

A PLETHORA OF MONEY

IN ENGLAND. Mr. A. A. Corrigan, who has recently returned from a trip to England, talks interestingly of the industrial and social condition of England when lie left. As one with business interests Mr. Corrigan, in visiting the principals of several big firms, was able to gain a very intimate knowledge of the extraordinary condition of things- ' Whilst ho has no qualms about .the future of British traflo, ho is afraid that somo of the outer Dominions will have to wait a little before their wants can be supplied. "For instance," said Mr. Corrigan, "I remindedvone of my firms that it had not furnished the list of samples promised!'. I was told that it would be attended to at the earliest opportunity. When I suggested' sending out to me here a. little stock, the head suggested a motor drive—anything to put me off. Subsequently he told me that the whole output of his mill had been pledged to Belgium for the next three years! what he was doing then was to buy up a lot of small mills, at an enormous cost,, and with these he, hoped to pick up his i'nterEtnpire trade' before very long." "Money," said Mr. Corrigan, "England is rolling in mohejv People who before the war were living from liand-ta-mouth art wearing silks and satins now, and looking "Mrs. Nouveau Riche" for all they are worth. The dressmakers cannot make the clothes gay enough. In one aTea or block in London, seventeen war millionaires were counted. Tho restaurants and hotels were all going "at top," and were obviously peopled by those quite unaccustomed to such life before the war."

Where does the money come from ? "Munitions money. The contracting firms and shareholders havo become wealthy, and, the employees have lieen paid big wages for four years, and are spending it 'like lords and ladies.' AYhen we left there was evidently plenty of money for anything that was offering, and company flotation was a prosperous avocation."