OBSERVATIONS IN THE OLD COUNTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2228, 4 November 1907, Page 1

OBSERVATIONS IN THE OLD COUNTRY.

In an interview with a reporter Mr John Court, of Auckland, said:— “I was much struck with tho general air of content and prosperity which was apparent aliko in town and country. Progress is tlio watchward, and tlio conditions of tlio working-man havo certainly not remained behind. In the country districts especially I was forcibly impressed with tho great improvement that lias taken place in the life of tlio worker during the past fourteen years.” Mr. Court waxed enthusiastic over tlio roods and roadmaking in tho old land, which ho accredited to tho liberal use of steam rollers and tho free expenditure of money by local authorities on road matters. “Throughout England, Scotland and Ireland, I didn’t seo one had road,” lie exclaimed, and then he shook his head, with tho remurk, “Wo havo a lot to learn here, I can seo; wo will have to adopt moro up-to-dato methods, beyond a doubt.” Another matter that struck tlio traveller was tho spreading out of tho big cities, for which tho electric tramoar is largely responsible. Ho instanced Birmingham in this respect, saying .that where ho remembered a congested town, confined to tho smallest possible area into which business could ho crowded,' ho had found .a wiile-6preading placo, with a great part of tlio population living in outlying suburbs. “You can imagine that there has been a rust change in business conditions on tin's aecoulit,” continued the speaker, “for ivhero there onco was a jirosperous and busy shopping centre within lialf-a-milo of tlio heart of ,the city, you will now find shops at a discount, either closed, or rented absolutely for a song, while trade has moved to tho far suburbs, whither tlio people go to escape tho heat and .dirt of tho city after .their day’s work. This condition of things is an undoubted boon, to tho working part of tho community, both for hoalthfulncss and a cost of living. Where rents before would be 12s, 15s and 18s a week, equally good and better places are now available at about half that money. Five and six-roomed houses can ho got for 5s 6d and 6s 6d a week.” “The same house would bo obtainable here at about 175,” ho added in qualification to Auckland as a house-hunter’s paradise.

Conversation turned to tho subject of 6ewage, hut on.this point Mr. Court, although ho made it a point to inquire into all the systems ho camo across, saw nothing that struck him with particular force. Tho Newcastle system of treating the sewage chemically before consigning it to the tideway appeared to impress him somewhat, but not being an expert on These matters, ho cautious■lv refrained from committing himself.

“One thing that must imnross the onlooker upon visiting the Old Country,” ho remarked, “is the small likelihood of protection and • preferential trado being received by tho country at largo while things are so prosperous under present conditions. Ihe general, impression, seems to bo that, there is nothing to be gained by it. Coming through Sydney I was struck with the demoralised 6tato of trad 0 under the new tariff. Business peoplo seem to he thoroughly disgusted—they nevor know to-day what is going to happen to-morrow. At Home even the preferential traders appear flabbergasted at'the results of tho Australian tariff revision,. which in many ways operates prejudicially to the English business man. In Australia itself I spoke to people from tlio country districts, and in almost every instance I heard intense dissatisfaction expressed. ‘The tariff is now framed in the interests of the big cities,’ is the criticism of the man from outside the town.”