A WELCOME HOME

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 131, 29 November 1929, Page 4

A WELCOME HOME

■ On Monday night about 300 of the staff of Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd., assembled to welcome Mr. C. IV Smith (managing director) and his wife and daughter, who have just returned from a. mine months' trip abroad. Mr. Sidnay Kirkcaldie (chairman of directors) presided "■Whilst speaking- about London," saiid Mr. Smith, in the course of a, very interesting description of his travels, "1". must say with great pleasure that upon comparing- the shops with ours New Zealand stands very well. I was greatly struck upon, landing the otlier day to find that there was * no considerable difference- between the shops I had come to and those I had left in great cities abroad." The goods were the same class as those rate London shops, the styles the same, and the general tcme quite as smart. Aa to the way the goods arc- worn, New Zealanders bore comparison very welU Mr. Smith, gave the palm for smartness to the New York girls, considering they- beat any in. the world far knowledge of how ta wear clothes; in his opinion, the French could. not equal them. ...

At lieeds, John Barrah 'a factory was visited—a most interesting- experience. The eu'tting-room alone covered the area o£ a fnil-sized Kugby playing groundj, and. it was almost impossible to recognise a person standing at the. opposito ond. The men worked close to each ofch.er at benches, chalking the lilies for the cutters who cut about 25 or more suits at-once.

"The time spent in New York, was replete with interest,' * continued Mr. Smith. "One.of the sights is. tho Woolworth Buildings. Going up the lift there is quate an experience; after the first 3G floors they travel quietly, butcoming down. from, the 54th to the 24th is a non-stop run for sightseers, and gives an untjanhy sensation. The lights of Broadway were as dazzling aa expected and much admired. Later the Niagara; FaEs and Burning- Springs were visited: . -The"Falls were awe-in-spiring and :ilie effect whe:^ lip by electrieityvsQmetMng to- dream about." In England' Mr. Smith's, party found that travelling; by char-a-banc was

amazingly cheap and satisfactory, being ©asy, comfortable, and safe. This means of getting over the ground was specially suitable for tourists, as they could give undivided attention to scenery and sights, and was far to be preferred to hiring a, motor and driving oneself, which necessitated the man at tho wheel giving his full attention to that job only. The party had a day's char-a-baue driving on one occasion at the small cost of ltis, and that included a light afternoon tea.