BONNIE SCOTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1929, Page 8

BONNIE SCOTLAND

“ONE RIG AGRICULTURAL GARDEN”.

PROSPECTS OE EMPIRE TRADE.

A striking comparison between the conditions prevailing in England and Scotland, much in favour of the latter country, is drawn by Mr L. McKenzie, an ex-member of the Wellington City Council, in a letter written from Hastings, England. He says : ‘‘On crossing the Tweed, we were immediately struck with the general appearance off the country compared with that of England. Every inch of Scotland seemed to be under cultivation. In the towns, no matter how small, there seemed to be few men idle at the street corners, so different to what is usual in England. In fact, Scotland from north to south, is a great agricultural garden with the crops in excellent order, due to the plentiful rain they have had this autumn compared with the droughty conditions of the> south.

A HAPPY, INDUSTRIOUS PEOPLE

After some weeks off residence among the Scotch people particularly the farmers, I was able to conclude that they ate'a happy industrious people. Their one concern was the amount of grain that was coming to England from the Continent, which in some instances carried an export duty of one shilling per bushel, making it hard for them to compete. This, of course, raises a very important question for Empire discussion, and, strange as it may seem, we find Mr J. Iff. Thomas reported to have already made an agreement with Canada to take a huge quantity off British coal, and England, in return, to take Canadian wheat," or to find a way of placing it.

“On my way back from Scotland 1 bad a chat with a gentleman largely interested in the iron industry who told me that Germany had practically control of the Swedish ore. This is the host iron ore in Europe, and although his firm was well supplied from their own mines, it was certainly most important from an Empire point of view. He was of opinion that a stocktaking of the Empire’s resources was necessary in the not too ifar future and would form a most useful purpose at an Empire meeting. Should Mr Thomas’s scheme enlarge, whih it must if started it means a better realisation of trade within the Empire, which would become one of the most important proposals of this generation. DANISH PRODUCE IN DEMAND. “There was hardly a town no matter how small, in which I did not find New Zealand apples and butter, and feel sure that side by side with these should he New Zealand bacon and ham, which run naturally with the butter industry. Whilst in the North I purchased Danish bacon at 2s 6d. a pound, and Aryshire unsmoked, for 25., and here in the south it is all Danish at Is lid to 2s retail. I merely mentioned these retail prices to show some off the New Zealand farmers what there is in this form of produce. On the other hand bacon is at a higher price than it had been for eight months but from inquiries there is no decline in sight. “Colonial people have experienced a wonderful summer, the finest for many years, so they have seen England at its best. It is not unusual to see places where people have been allowed only two buckets of water per day and while passing through Stilton there was told me the case off a carter wishing a drink of water. The old lady accosted said she would much sooner give him beer, which she had made before the shortage of water had been experienced.