VISIT TO UNITED STATES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 288, 31 August 1921, Page 6

VISIT TO UNITED STATES

NEW ZEALANDER IMPRESSED KEEN BUSINESS APTITUDE A FEATURE SOME LESSONS FOR THE DOMINION By Telegraph—Special Oorreepondeut. Masterton, August 30. "From boot black to financial magnate, every American impresses one as possessing- a keen ■ business aptitude. Everyone is courteous, but no one wastes time, and things aro done and said with a minimum of delay.” That is tho opinion formed of the American people by Mr. C. E. Daniell, who returned to Masterton last night after a six weeks’ motor tour of the United States. He did not, however, see an American whose equal could not bo found in New Zealand. His belief is that the men hero are just as good, but their methods of doing things are often not as direct or as efficient. Speaking to a Dominion representative to-day, Mr. Daniell said that what impressed him most during his visit to the States was the universal use of petroldriven vehicles. In California alone 568,000 cars were registered annually. When travelling by road from San Francisco to Los Angeles his ear had been one of a long and continuous lino for the first 60 miles. On the same road, but travelling in the opposite direction, was another unending line of cars. As the average speed was about' 25 miles per hour, it was only very occasionally that a chance would occur for one car to get ahead of another. Even then the risk was great, for the speed of the cars coming in the opposite direction did not allow of much time or room for manoeuvring on the 15 feet wide concrete Toadway. Everywhere petrol was ousting steam; the motor-car was successfully competing with the train and the steamer. In fact, in some places railway lines were being removed to make way for a national highway. One street in San Erancieco was occupied solely by motor-car sales houses, and there could be seen thou aalids of cars of every make and model

Mr. Dmiell pointed out that California was the motorists' paradise for three reasons: Firstly, because petrol was wonderfully ihean; secondly, because tho roads were wonderfully good; and thirdly, because it. had a wonderful climate. Throughout his whole tour, which includ'd California, Oregon, and Washington he never paid less than 23 cents or more than 27 cents per gallon for benzine Ten American gallons (equal to 8 l-3rd imperial gallons) cost 24 dollars in the States, while for the same amount in / ucklnnd Mr. Daniell had to pay 31a 9d., and in Napier 335. Hydro-Electric Power, All this extra profit went out of this country, he commented, yet with plenty of water-power, labour, and cement, the Dominion had now an opportunity to retain this money by making electricity do the work of petrol in every form of machinery. Though numerous oil-well derricks were to be seen in many parts of America and oil was to be had for the asking, yet the Americans were not neglecting hydro-electricity. Electric power lines were everywhere, transforming stations being found in the most out-of-the-way places. Current wns carried for hundreds of miles to those requiring it. In arid districts elecflTcTty was use'll to pump artesian water on to the farms, and wonderful irrigation schemed were to te seen. In this connection New Zealand might well follow America’s example regarding the development of hydro-electri-cal power. Concrete Roads.

For one dollar per annum per 1001 b. car weight, the American motorist Is supplied with thousands of> miles of 15-fcet wide concrete roads. Mr. Daniell travelled over 3800 miles of roads by ear, and of this he estimates'that 2400 paved with cement. Where there was no cement, men were at work shortening, straightening, and improving the grade of the roadway. If the .engineers' saw wTiere half a mile could be saved or a hill avoided, they Trail no hesitation in diverting the highway. Originally the Californian roads were no better than our own, said Mr. Daniell. Now that the national highways scheme was in operation, cement pavements were enabling cars in many instances to force railway companies to the wall. Both for passenger and goods traffic the motor was the popular form of transport in America. Of course, it had to bo rememberer: that California was the playground of America, and what was possible in road construction there might not be possible in New Zealand for many years to come. American Patriotism. The patriotism and civic pride of the American was particularly noticed by Mr. Daniell. It was a common thing to see in cafes a placard bearing such words as “Every citizen should give at least one thought each day for his city and his country.” On a burst tree stump on a forest roadway was seen the following inscription : “This tree will pay no wages.’’ Another tree stump had the following notice: “A smoker started this fire. I stopped it.” Everyone took intense pride in the attractions of city and country, and wanton, destruction of beauty. spots was rare. School children had patriotism instilled into them from the beginning and the phrase “Americanisation of children” was a prime cduSttleration of th* teachers. "Ono of the things they are taught, said Mr. Daniell, “is that America is th» one nation among the victors in the recent war that didn’t claim extra territory. I pointed out to some of those in authority that though the United States did not gain any land, she held substantial mortgages over former enemy counties. They had no r«p’y to this " Mr. ' Daniell said that Mrs. J._ Carlia Preston, Superintendent of Public Instruction in the State of Washington, was an exceedingly efficient woman. If a teacher failed or refused to teach patriotism, that teacher speedily lost his employment Children were taught that the Ameiimn Constitution gave every man the right io citizenship, but allowed conscience no exemption when tho country was in danger. Emigrant families from Europe were quickly made into patriotic Americans. Tho authorities realised that to make parents happy and contented they must start with the child. This they do by making them proud American citizens. Owing to the bad conditions under which ■ country teachers worked, small country schools were disappearing in America, where a precess of centralisation was being prosecuted. Mules, horses, motor-cars, boats, and trains' were used to convey children to larger schools, and though the scheme was only in its infancy the results already appeared to justify it. Mr. Daniell travelled from Vancouver on the Mrtk'im, which had Lord Northcliffe on board. Asked forjtis opinion of the newspaper magnate, mr'. Daniell said: “A real John Dull. A straight forward, candid man, who gets his facts, forms his opinion, anti expresses it witnout fearing tho consequences.’’