MISSED THE SUNSHINE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 88, 4 December 1931, Page 7

MISSED THE SUNSHINE

VISIT TO ENGLAND' MR. A. E. CARRUTHERS GIVES HIS IMPRESSIONS OF HOME LAND MOTOR TRADE BOOMING "The greatest pleasure I derived from my trip to England," said'Mr. A. E. Carruthers when in conversation with a "Post" representative, "was my return to New- Zealand, where we do get some fine weather. You get as much sunshine in one day here as you would get in five weeks in England. Over there, if the f aintest glimmer of sunlight manages to flitter through the murk and f og and smoke of the atmosphere everybody remarks what a beautiful day it is." Mr. Carruthers spent seven weeks in England and occupied his time between business and pleasure. Mrs. Carruthers had gone Home a few months before him and he went to join her there. Considering the short time Mr. Carruthers had in England he visited many places and brought back with him some interesting information regarding conditions, espeeially in the manufacturing towns, where he did business. He made particular reference to Birmingham, where he spent one whole day in exploring the Austin motor works at Longbridge. "It was impossible to see more than a part of the factory in the day," said Mr. Carruthers, "the place is so vast. It covers an area about the size of the town of Rotorua and is so constructed that it is practically a miniature city in itself. "All the parts of the cars exc'ept the tyres are made in the factory, keeping many hundxeds of men employed. The staff are provided with all .possible aids to health, comfort and efficiency such as mess rooms, bath-rooms, living accommodation, etc. The quarters of the senior staff i are like a; first-elass hotel, the rooms being beautifully furnished and staffed with servants. "After spending the morning being shown the various points of interest in the factory I was invited to luneh and was surprised to see so much luxury. In the afternoon I was shown other departments of the works and only wished that I had more time at my disposal. In the evening I motored up to London to see the motor show." Mr. Carruthers said that the Austin Company was doing good business, having pver 1000 orders continually in hand and was turning out up to. 250 cars a week. 1 In remarking on the effect of the abandonment of the gold standard by Great Britain, Mr. Carruthers said that it had caused a great boost in trade and business. An instance of the effect on prices was marked by Mr. Carruthers at the motor show, where a French car marked previously in the region of £2400, went up in price. to about £3000. When asked regarding the general condition of the people, at Home, Mr. Carruthers said that there seemed to be just as much wealth as previously if the number of expensive cars could be taken as any indication of the situation. As for the unemployed he said that the same type of people hung around the street corners as did ten years ago. The attitude of many of the people really made the position appear far worse than it really was. Another thing which impressed Mr. Carruthers was the wonderful organisation of motor-coach services throughout the country. Ten years ago'" there were practically no such , services, but now, thousands of /these coaches travel to all parts of EnVlgnd carrying passengers in the maximum" of comfort for ridiculously low fares. They were seriously competing with the railways, he said, as they were taking passengers for half the price and though they perhaps took longer on the journey they were well patronised by the public. During his stay in England, Mr. Carruthers made his headquarters just outside London. he also spent some time at Southwold, where he joined in s.everal of the sporting activities, particularly, fishing, shooting and golfing.