PROSPEROUS ENGLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1932, Page 3

PROSPEROUS ENGLAND

LOW PRICES! OF GOODS IN SHOPS. WELLINGTON, February 22. “England was apparently very prosperous. Everybody was spending money freely. The'roads were covered with the latest models of motorcars, but everybody was complaining of the falling off in trade,” remantea Mr Cyrus J. R. Williams, formerly engineer-secretary to the Lyttelton Harbour Board for twenty-five years, who returned .by the Monowai to-day from an eleven months’ tour, pf. England and the Continent. “Wherever . one- went in England tiiere was shipping laid up. On the Clyde there were about forty-eight large vessels of 10,000 tons register each, and shipping was also laid up at Dartmouth, Plymouth and Penzance,” lie said. “A casual observer in England would think that everyone is comfortable and enjoying himself thoroughly. The theatres are full and it is difficult to get in. On the surface, there seems to be plenty of money about. On the other hand, shop prices are much lower than they are in New Zealand, goods being about one-third cheaper.” Mr .Williams expressed the opinion that the drop in price of wool was not temporary and that there would have to he a readjustment of conditions instead of our waiting in expectation of a rise. Production would have to meet present prices. Such a course was going to be difficult as it would affect the question : of labour. From what he saw in England, New Zealand would have to be prepared to accept something round about the present prices.

EVERYBODY WORKING. “vjti the Continent, .everybody seemed to be busy,” he added. “The people seem to be meeting the position by getting down to work. They are sitting still in England. On the Continent, they are tackling fiieir problems. People work in the fields as long a;s it is daylight, and Sunday is no exception. On Sunday they cart wood and do other work they have not time for during the week.” Mr .Williams isaid that he was not suggesting that we should follow that example and he would not like to see those conditions in England. Discussing Continental countries, he expressed the opinion that Germany was the. pleasantest' place. The people in Switzerland appeared to 'be very prosperous and independent. In Italy one could not buy anything but what was produced in the country. The country did not impress one as a wealthy country, but appeared to be one in which people were very contented and managed with what they had. “I did not see evidence of much money being spent,” said Mr Williams, “and Italy appeared as, a country that' was getting along very comfortably without spending money. Holland seemed to be very very prosperous and France very bright. Money was spent freely in Paris, where everything was very expensive.” SOCIAL REVOLUTION.

Mr Williams spent a portion of bis holiday trip in Australia. He said that the people in New "South'''Wales vveire very concerned. They were in a state of trepidation all the time and did not know what the next move would be. They felt there that the gradual process of all property being whittled away, practically a social revolution, without violence, was coming about. The recent action of the Federal 'Government was (approved, there being a general feeling against repudiation. As au engineer, Mr Williams was naturally interested in the' Sydney Harbour Bridge. He was very impressed with it, “but I did not fall in love with it,” he added. “I have not yet discovered that the pylons have any office, and I don’t think they add to the beauty of it. A great bridge is being built in America, without plyons and f like it better.”