“WON’T WORK”

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 55, 28 November 1921, Page 6

“WON’T WORK”

ENGLAND’S UNEMPLOYED VIEWS OF A NEW ZEALANDER “No one knows what is wrong with England. No one seems to wish to,work,” remarked Mr. W. Fitzherbert, of Palmerston North, who returned to New Zealand by the lonic yesterday. He alsn stated that there was scarcely any demand for New Zealand frozen beef in England. Mr. Fitzherbert has been in England for the last six months, having in addition paid a visit to France and the battlefields, and Belgium. He states that England does not seem to want to work. “It was a revelation to me in France and Belgium," he said. "Everyw'hcro I went, I saw work —real work. Land workers are making magnificent efforts, and indeed in all branches of labour much is being done. How different this is to the Old Country. One sees every day crowds of 40,000 to 50,000 at cricket matches, football matches, or nt races. No one seems to be putting any effort into reconstruction—and the result is that things are very bad. The unemployment dole has proved something of a farce. In hundreds of cases men are quite satisfied with the dole —so much so that they desire to keep away from good hard work.” The unpopularity of New Zealand frozen beef was stressed by The Dominion's informant. "New Zealand will have to realise that s/he cannot compete in the matter of beef with the Argentine,” he sqjd. "Argentine chilled beef is proving far more acceptable, both as regards quality and nearness of the exporting country to Britain. However, New Zealand butter, frozen mutton and lamb cannot be beaten. There is a g<od demand' for it. I had some frozen lamb in London recently and it was tho finest lamb I have ever tasted, fresh or frozen.” Mr. Fitzherbert said that although there seemed to be a great deal of n oney in London, it came mostly from tourists 'Hiero was great financial stringency at H “New Zealanders are ‘white-haired boys’ in England,” he said "They are the most pppulM-. by far of all the men from the overseas Dominions and colonies.*’ He considered that a great deal or real hardship had been caused m England by the cessation of a great deal of Shipbuilding. "This is due partly to the fault of the Government,” he said. "Hany German ships were taken by the Imperial Government in lieu of indemnity, and the result has been that others have not. been built.”