AN OPEN SESAME

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1930, Page 3

AN OPEN SESAME

MR P. L. DAVIES’ EXPERIENCES

IN AMERICA

CHRISTCHURCH, March 13. Mr P. L. Davies, of Christchurch, who has just returned from a visit to the Old Country and America,, found that his possession of the Commission of the Peace in New Zealand wis of great assistance to him during his travels. 1

lie landed in New York from tjie liner Samaria, 22,000 tons about nine o’clock one night, and was confronted by the barrier of the Customs. Cfeie officer was calling out “All aliens this way and another "All Americans this way.” .The passengers were shepherded into alphabetical order, and Mr Davies found himself standing in a queue about fourth in order. When it came his turn to be examined he was asked a large number of questions of an intimate character, and during the course of the interrogation it was. elicted that he was a Justice of the Peace, or a magistrate as'the Americans call it. Immediately this caipe out the demeanour of the officer changed entirely, and he informed Mr Davies that he should have been given precedence, and that as lie was a Government official he could go through without informalities.

All his way through America Mf Davies found that the fact that lie was a Justice of the Peace was a means of securing him consideration and official services that might -not have' beyn extended ordinarily. ' The entry fee into the States is £2 1?s, and there is a head tax of £1 18$ Id, the latter being refunded to visit ors either on the boat or the " train which takes them from the States. ;

Tn New York Mr Davies stayed at the Hotel Macalpine, which contains T" 10 ' rooms, and'is of the skyscraper variety. Each room is provided, with a Bible and a bathroom. The charge was approximately seven and a half dollars for bed only.

He is full of admiration for the way' in which the police control traffic on Ernadwav and other busy streets of the great metropolis. Both passenger and vehicles are well controlled, “jav-walkers” are sternly discouraged, Mr Davies paid a .visit to the Griinjl ran von of the Colorado River, Americans have made this gifedt; natural show place into a firtt class ntiffu?t'bn. with the result tha.t-' jdjdfe flt.a thousands' of visitors, who rather expensively, catered fpffij'-Y I ', 'fri' passing reference to ( Mf Davies said that in his bpmtbl&ft was a farce. The general inipre'si&ajh he encountered throughout, the. was' that the next election would. i|j& more intensely fought on the k v et versus dry issue than the previous one had been. . His experience, throhghotit the country showed that there was little respect in either precept or practice for tiie prohibition. law. \ , W C