VERY REAL THING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 17 November 1927, Page 3

VERY REAL THING

CONFIDENCE IN BALDWIN GOVERNMENT CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND. INTERESTING INTERVIEW. Mr A. B. Harper, a new-comer to Hastings within the last two months or so, granted an interview to a representative of the “Tribune” last night. This gentleman is not a mere “Cook’s Tourist,” who has i|ished round* s in the usual orgy of sight-see-ing, and with little time to spare, but a level-headed and thoughtful traveller who has included most countries of the world in his itinerary. He has recently spent two years in the Old Country, and that is a space of time which gives ample opportunity for a study of economic and social conditions.

In answer to leading questions put to him by the interviewer, Mr Harper said that in spite of the many pessimistic utterances that had come under his notice with regard to conditions at home, he was convinced that Britain was sound to the back-bone. As evidenced by the last General Election neither Bolshevism nor advanced Socialism will be accepted by the electorate. Confidence in the present Government, he said, is a very real thing. When the manager of an influential shipping company voiced his fears of a coming upheaval in social life two years ago, Mr Harper ventured to assure him that there was nothing to worry about; and his assurance was ratified by subsequent events. Mr Harper, among his other activities, has been chiefly engaged in managing family estates in England, in consequence of which he has a splendid insight into all questions af fecting land and property. FARMERS DIFFICULTIES. Speaking of the farming industry at Home, he said that in his opinion there existed the same malady as is evident in this country—forced sales of estates, heavy death-duties and taxation. The farmers at Home if they wish to retain their farms, must buy at a high figure, and before they can do that they inust take up the money from the banks at a high late of interest. Farmers, in consequence, have been hard-hit. Btu it was Mr Harper’s opinion, based upon keen and interested observation, that the farming industry would 'right itself in the course of time. He having done a bit of farming himself in the Old Country, Mr Harper’s opinion is worth having. THE UNEMPLOYED. As regards unemployment, Mr Harper observed better prospects than were evident two years ago. Speaking in particular of the neighbourhood of Bristol and Bath, he indicated that he saw evidences of better prospects than could have been seen two years ago. He added that no evident signs Of destitution were observable in that area. With regard to engineering, although there is a slump in the industry to a certain degree, the electric crane industry seems to be flourishing. Mr Harper said that this branch of the engineering industry had when ho left, as many orders as the firms concerned could cope with. The harbour gear industry in general, he said, Is undoubtedly in a flourishing condition at Home. COAL MINING INDUSTRY. As to mining, Mr Harper spoke of Somerset, and pointed out that several of the smaller pits had certainly been closed down, but that this was due to the fact that they had been worked out, and were no longer a pay ing proposition. In some cases the workings had reached such depths aud had been operated for so lung, that the miner had to walk a mile and a half from the shaft-bottom to the coal face. Such uneconomic factors, as Mr Harper pointed out, a?e simplebusiness losses, and have nothing to do with anything like a class-war. Unsettlenient was observed amongst the miners of South Wales but he was not in a position to give an opinion in that matter. MATTERS IN GENERAL. In general, as regarding house-pro-perty, said Mr Harper, people *re sitting tight. Those who have fixed incomes dare not launch out. A factor in the situation is the re-assess-ment of many cities for rating purposes. Income-tax is certainly heavy at Home, —4/6 per £l—but it should be remembered, said Mr Harper, that considerable abatements are made—e.g., for earned income, for personal allowances, for children, etc., so that when everything is taken into ac-

count, conditions are not so very much different from those pertaining to this country.

Summing up his impressions of two years, Mr Harper said that he eoj.ild not find a great deal that was depressing in Home conditions. When one observed the shopping activities of the people, it was certainly evident that people with fixed incomes were more careful in their spending, but nevertheless the general stores were doing remarkably well. One had but to glance over the balancesheets of such firms as Harrods’ and Selfridge’s to be aware of sonic- of the best and most richly-yielding investments in England.