VISIT TO CALIFORNIA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 11, 6 October 1937, Page 15

VISIT TO CALIFORNIA

Our Own Correspotidey( )

Americans Are Hazy About New Zealand WAGES & LIVING COSTS

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PALMERSTON N., This Day. "They have labour tronbles fa greater than ours. The workers in thhs Country are muoh better oatered lot in -respect to houn and health condi.tions in factories than are the majority of workers in Oalifornia," Mr K. 8. Glendinning told a reporter yesterday on his return to Palmerston North from n holiday in that state of the U.8.A. He was accompanied by Messrs P. Cousins, A, E. Hansel, and O. H. Williame. Mr Glendinning said that the great advantage of workers in the ■ cities they visited was that salaries were on the average much above the New Zea--land level, but this was largely offset by a greater cost Of living. Many people imagined that thing3 were ineariably cheap in the States, but this ira* not so except for certain lines. Ootton goods were extremely cheap, Dut if woollens of the New Zealand piality were " purchased in Oalifornia (hey would be. two or three times as lear as hete. Fruit grew in abundance, md fruit and vegetables formed portion of the daily diet of most people. Fhe Americans were great cold water drinkers and, invariably on entering a restaurant, one was served first with a jlass of ice-eold water, which was kept llled throughout the meal. The Ameriians were great believers in the health ralue of drinking water. The most popular meats were chicken and turkey frhile steaks were also frequently intluded on menus. They were however almost prohibitive in cost; in one steak shop the New Zealanders had a meal costing them two dollars each. Elsewhere it was impossible to get a steak for less than a dollar. At hotels good service was available if one wished to pay for it, but such things as the cleaning of shoes were invariably extras. Hazy About New Zealand "Oh, yes, that's down in Australia somewhere, isn't it?" was the response of a number of people on learning that the visitors were from New Zealand. Many had only hazy ideas about the Dominion unless they themselves had travelled. New Zealanders were very well thought of by Americans as a whole, and a number of men who had left New Zealand for Oalifornia had made good over there. To the successful man the state offered a rich reward. Admirable Trafflc Control. Chauffeur of the party, Mr Glendinning drove for 2500 miles in Oalifornia anjl was greatly impressed with the wonderful Toads and the organisation of traffic both in cities and on country roads. Often four lanes of traffic were >to be seen travelling in both directions along a highway, but so well were they organised that the volume of traffic presented no difficulty. At the intersection to every main road or street one was compelled to atop completely. The penalty for neglect was severe antl nobody was seen infringing. This was a great safety factor. The right hand rule, at first awkward, soon became familiar. All traffic police were armed and it was told to the visitors that these officers did not hesitate to shoot when they encountered "tough out* fits." Motoring was amazingly cheap; the tour of 2500 miles in a rental car cost the four only £12 10s each, a sum that included gas, oil, service and every charge. In the cities, Los Angeles and Sau Francisco, the tall buildings soon ceased to be novel, said Mr Glendinning. They were a popular avenue to suieide, and the party just missed seeing a death leap to the pavement from tho thirteenth floor. The Brevity of Life. Methods of abbreviation in eommon usage interested the visitors. Nighl was generally spelt nite and many words were spelt as they sounded. Abbreviations were eommon in newspap* srs; S.F. and L.A. connoted San Francisco and Los Angeles. From the visitors' viewpoint the papers were no better than if as good as those to which they were accustomed in New Zealand, and carried little international news, An occasional line on the Spanish war was about all that was reached from Europe, and nntil Americaji vessels were bombcd at Shanghai little prominence was given the situation there. Army navy and air foroes were of .great strength as seen in manoeuvres. Reserves told how they had been called up, and there was no doubt that the American air f orce, should it be engaged, would be a potent weapon of war. As many as 50 machines were seen in formation flights, while by night dozens of planes were aloft over the cities. Flying was an efficient and inexpensive method of transport in the States, promoting air-mindedness inevitably. The four Palmerstonians flew in seaplanes, airliners, and : a balloon engaged in flights over Los Angeles. Golf for tho Rich. Much Of tha holiday waB spent by the party in golfing, and this afforded them an, interesting insight into the conduct of. the game in Oalifornia. "The courses are marvellous in lay-out . and in condition, but one realises that the greatness of the courses is achieved largely by dollars," said Mr Glendinning. One man whom they met confided that his golf alone cost him 4000 dollars (about £1000) annually. The visitors paid as much as 25s a. day for a green fees alone, With caddies ' fees, meals and transport additional. It was eertainly a land where golf was for the rich. There were of course municipal links in excellent order, but even on these a round cost 5s for green fees. . The link* war® watered aJLL over. lair-

ways as well as greens being kept ss colourful as possible. Summing up his impressions of the tour, Mr Glendinning said it had made him proud to be a Britisher living in a country where graft had not got nold of the public men and where such a thing as British justice existed. Despite a general laek of appreciation of this arresting fact in other countries, the dollar governed justisft All ft great extent in America. -