IN LONDON NOW.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1923, Page 4

IN LONDON NOW.

,r ;> THE AVAR AND ITS AFTERMATH. l!v A. ,1. Jlarrop. M.A., in the '‘PRESS/’) Now Zealander* in general cannot realise the awful burden which the war lias placed upon the shoulders of the people of England. We have war taxation in New Zealand and there has been a certain amount of depression in trade. I’ut in England these little details pale into itisignilieanoe. I have been in London but a lew day.-, but niy chief wonder l- the sublime ability of the people to keep going under the terrible strain. The income-tax is imposed on all incomes over ildo, it i-< exacted rigidly, and on iairly large incomes it amounts to an almost incredible percentage. The result is only too apparent. 1 drove down Park lane yesterday, and most conspicuous ol all In this famous street ol splendid tuan-'ion-s v. ere the notices ol the auctioneers. Everywhere people are giving up tile struggle against the octopus of the income-tax, atnl tins stately homes of England are being converted into Hat*. The amusement tax very evidently defies England to he "Memo England" still, ft is twice as severe as the tax levied in New Zealand. Taxation exercises its baleful influence everywhere. One sees if in the hotel- ami in the restaurants. The proprietors economise in all the little extras which mean mi much the comfort of the public, hut which

amount in the aggregate to a large Item in the l.iir of expenses. In con--e pi.'uee 1 lie New Zealander thinks with regret of the tea-rooms ui the New Zealand cities where there is rnini,!ll ami cleanliness ami beauty. Ol course you can get tlte.-c thing- ui Loudon— but the price to he paid is a toulldillg. A luncheon which would cost 1 bd or 'J s Cd in New Zealand would ho at loa-t twice as much in London and tl.e service would not he so good, ltelore tln war, 1 am told. tlie Loudon lea-room s and restaurants were admirable. To-day an admirable restaurant is t lie exception, and itebarges suliicient to keep one's admiral ion within reasonable bounds. A

New Zealand lady, uim lias been in America ami Kngland fur many years, i11l‘or: iH"i I me that it cast her Cl a a week fur the rent of a room ami food alone. For a man, living was more expensive still. In New York living tins still dearer, hut there salaries were in proportion. (Ivcrv.liehning taxation is naturally bavins a detrimental elfeet on industry. I'liemployment is obviously rile, ami tt hat the position will lie in the con.ine; winter is didieult to imagine in New Zealand. I'tihlie bodies are being urged tu undertake all possible work's immediately, hut the outlook is grave indeed. The futile dockers’ strike which is jtts! terminating, has made the position very much worse, and the losses in traces and perishable food supplies runs into millions. And above Fngland, jii its present p irloiis state, hangs tlm dark cloud ol international strife. Fleet street journalists have told me that I might

(‘Xpert, some el' the gravest events in history (1 iiri n.!_r the next tun year.-, ami that, the possibility <il’ another tear was well within the realm-, el' practical polities. The imagination reels in the endeavour to depict v.hat another win would mean to Kurland now. She might emerge victorious, hut the condition 10 which her people would he reduced make.- one shudder. " Kurope in the melt dig pol " --a phrase never more useful or more true tlian at tile pre.-ent day. One of the luaiiv Xew Zealanders u ho have made pood m Fleet street told me that he had in.st returned from a tied to fell trad Kurope. in Vienna there were only two customers in the largest store at three o'clock in the afternoon. The people lived for the day only, and I I'iii v.vio similar. Fort un.d-ri\ t'u harvests had l.d-ii excellent tin- year. And mi the drama goes on. It seems inliniielv more real than it did in distant New Zealand, and one realises the high stakes lor widen the world's diplonmts are playing. If they hhtnder i ll {■ • war. . hut. words are lulile to express what e'.eii tile iimigiiuuion < au inrivlv vaguely outline.