A Prosperous Britain

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 40, 17 February 1937, Page 9 (Supplement)

A Prosperous Britain

ARMAMENTS PROGRAMME NOT THE SOLE CAUSE “What impressed me most was that of all the countries I visited, the United Kingdom is the most prosperous, ’ * declared Professor W. Riddet, director of the Dairy Research Institute, Massey College, on Monday evening, when he returned to Palmerston North from twelve months spent abroad in market investigations and research. Great Britain had emerged from the depression, more successfully than other countries, this not only because of the spirit of the people but because of the methods adopted to rehabilitate industry. The prosperity everywhere evident to-day was not entirely due to the policy of intensive rearming that had been introduced. Of course, such activities as the building of new ships and aeroplanes had stimulated industrial activity, but this alone did not account for the buoyant trend. Ti e remarkable activities in some industries meant that to-day there was a great demand for skilled labour; men who had known long periods of idleness were again being absorbed. There was of course still a national unemployment problem; it was not only a question of absorbing men back into their former trades. The demand for machine methods had meant that in some fields less labour was required, and men who had not had the opportunity of learning a trade were hard hit by the new conditions. The British prosperity was now unmistakable; how long it would endure was something that only international forces could determine.

Impetus to House Building. In some areas of England, said Professor Riddet, there had been great changes in the nature of the industry pursued. Coal-mining was not yet “out of the wood"; the advances of such industries as oil and electricity had given it a severe setback. For one who had not been in Britain for many years, an. impressive feature was the amazing development of such industries as rubber, artificial silk manufactures, etc. These industries were generally accommodated iu ultra-modern factories, surrounded by modern dwellings conveniently laid ont to afford the utmost health and! happiness to the workers. There had beeu great development in the building of flats, while the building of individual homes was also characterised by great activity. Insanitary buildings were being replaced by modem blocks. Naturally this was leading to the taking up of large land areas near ths towns and cities. On the roads Professor Riddet also found that the change had ben sweep, ing. Everywhere roads were wide and well built, tar-sealed invariably. Near all major centres by-passes were afforded to remove traffic from the central arteries. Every effort was made to provido for case in road transport, and to avoid dislocation. The volume of traffic was enormous. From the southern coastal resorts there was a constant stream Londonwards during week-ends; even during the week the intensity of traffic was astounding. Road transport was extensively used for the haulage of freights, although the rail was preferred for long distances.