HOME AND THE CONTINENT.

Shannon News, 9 January 1923, Page 3

HOME AND THE CONTINENT.

INTERESTING VISIT BY LEVIN LADY.

In June last, Mrs J. W. Rimmer, o! Levin, left on a visit to her relatives in England, and afterwards went across to the Continent, where a very interesting month was spent in Germany and Austria, which at this particular time have much to' interest the British visitor. UNEMPLOYMENT AT HOME.

Mrs Rimmer informed a Chronicle representative that she arrived Home in the late summer, but the season was a had one as regards weather, being much, like; we have here in, winter. The general condition of the country industrially was bad. Trade was dull, and unemployment rife, the dole .system to relieve the unemployed being largely in force among the workers. A large percentage of the out-of-works were young men 18 years and upwards, who simply could not get work, whilst there were large numbers of married men out also. The payment of the dole seemed to be done very unsatisfactorily, the payments not being made for weeks, the recipients simply having to struggle on as best they, could until they got work. The working population were on what is known as the “clock system’’ right through Englaftd, and got paid for the work they actually did and not for what they were supposed to do, and there was a tightening up all round as a result. “The New Zealand and Australian workers are in a workers’ paradise and don’t know it,” said Mrs Rimmer. The engineering trade seemed to he very slack. The war period created large numbers of mechanics, and they could not be absorbed in the present condition of things.

COST OF LIVING HIGH. “Living is dearer in the Old Country than in New Zealand,” said Mrs Rimmer, and gave a few instances of the cost of foodstuffs. Bacon was 2/2 per lb, chops the same price, rump steak 2/, beef steak 1/8, butter 2/, milk 7d per quart. Bread was a little cheaper than here, and margarine could be bought at all prices according to quality. Prices varied a little in different cities, but all were on a high scale. BUSY GERMANY.

In September Mrs Rimmer, accompanied by a party of relatives, left for the Continent, going - via Dover to Ostend and through Belgium to Brussels. From there the party proceeded to Cologne in Germany. This city is on Ihe Rhine, and is occupied by British troops. Both here and in other parts of Germany industry was very brisk. Factories everywhere were working a t high pressure, and many had orders in hand for months ahead. Unemployment was practically unknown. The rate of exchange; was decidedly in favour of British visitors, and travelling and accommodation was very reasonable in consequence. A bed and breakfast at one of the best private hotels in Cologne cost 1/101, and that sum included the tax on for-, eigners. Railway travelling was cheap and comfortable. There were four classes of which were up to date in all respects. Cologne to Berlin is a long journey, hut the cost, first-class, for a party of five, was 13/. The shops in the German cities were excellently stocked. In Cologne and elsewhere the large .establishments displayed cards stating that 100 per cent tax was added to goods sold to foreigners. The law of competition, howevei*, came into force, for Hie smaller shops notified that they did not enforce the 100 per cent tax, and consequently caught a lot of foreign trade. BEAUTIFUL STREETS AND BUILDINGS. German cities were noticeable for their beautiful streets and buildings. Many of the restaurants were famous historically, and in public buildings the architecture, was superb. .Streets

in numerous cases were lined with trees, and statues were frequently to be seen along the thoroughfares. Munchen, Berlin and other cities were most interesting to- tlie visitors, hut Potsdam, the ex-Kaiser’s former home, was especially so. The castles, gardens and grounds were a beautiful sight, and many souvenirs were obtained of the once-famous home of German royalty. BRITISH TOURISTS’ PARADISE. •lust now with the rate of exchange so much in favour of British currency, Germany (and Austria as well) is a veritable paradise to the British visitor, owing to the cheapness of everything. As a result, there is a regular stream of visitors' to these countries, and many English people with small incomes have taken up residence in Germany, and are able to live much cheaper than in England, IN AUSTRIA.

Going , on to Austria, Vienna was found to be a fine city noted for its beautiful shops, and in days gone by was one of the fashion centres of Europe. The country was not nearly so busy as Germany, and the condition of the kroner being much lower than

RANGE OF PRICES. WANGANUI, Last Night. Messrs Levin and Co., Ltd.,- report: The second sale of the. 1922-23 season was held to-day, the total offei’ing being 15,000 bales .towards which ou. catalogue contributed 2080. There 1 a larger attendance of buyers than ever, sevei’al new operators showing up from overseas. All the the usual consuming centres wei - e well represented.

The offering was better than usual for the district, and we noticed an iinprovement in the get-up of the clip since the inception of the sales. With the marketing of their woo! near the producing centres, growers have been able to see - for themselvs how deficient their work in this dix-ec-tion has been in the past. It is hoped that the improvement, for which there is sti.l room, will continue. Bidding was keen and vigorous, and an excellent clearance of offerings was made. With the exception of one oxtwo instances in which growers’ reserves were not; based upon market values, we practically cleared our catalogue. Buying - Avas well spread between Bradford and the Continent, with America taking - any choice lots. There was a general all-round advance on the last Wanganui sale all. classes of wool, except Arperican sorts, Avhich remained at par. Following are the movements of the market since the sale here on November 29: —Super crossbred, suitable for America, about par; fines crossbred, 46/48, lid to 2d advance; medium crossbred. 44/46. lid to 2d advance; coai'se ci’ossbred, 40/44, lid , to 2d advance; loav crossbx - ed, 36/30, R 1 to 2d adA - ance; lambs, lid to 2d advance; bellies and pieces, lid to 2d advance; locks Id advance; ci-utch-ings. id advance. Tlie range of prices may be set out as follows:

RECORD BENCH OF BUYERS

GERMAN FIRMS OPERATE. WANGANUI, Last Night. The keenest interest avus manifested in the second sale of the .season here to-day. Fanners Avere greatly pleased when the sale at the outset showed a sharp rise of from Id to lid per lb on loav and medium crossbreds. The bench of buyers Avas- the largest that has e\ - er attended a sale in the Do. minion, and there was keen competition for all grades. Tavo German firms Avere operating at the sale, a,nd seemed eager to fill their requirements. The Wanganui quota had been reduced to 15,000 bales. ’ The range of prices is as follows, prices ruling at the November sale being given first:—■' SouthdoAvn (none), 191 d to 21Jd.

Fine crossbred (46-48) super—9id to 14d, 12Jd to 14Jd; average, 9id to lid, 11 to 131 d, Inferior —7£d to B§d, Bld to lOd. Medium ci’ossbred (44.46), super—(none), 12d to 13Jd; average, BJd to lid, 9d to 121 d; inferioi - , 6d to 71d, 7d to 9d.

Coarse Crossbred (40-44) super—(None), lOd to 10 Ad; average, 7d to BAd, 9d to 101; inferior, 51d to 6Ad, 7Jd to BAd. Low crossbred (36-40) super—7d to Bd, BAd to 9id; average, 6ld to 7d; 7(1 to SAd; inferior. 4Jd to 51G, 6Ad to 73d. Hoggetts, fine (46.45). 9Ad to 14d, lOd to - 3 5?.; medium (44-46), SJd to 12Jd, 9d to 13 Ad; coarse (*O-44) 62a to Bd, 8d to lOAd; low (36.40), 6Ad to 7d, 7id to 9Ad. Lambs down (50-56) (None), Lu to 153 d; fine (44-50), 9|d to 12Jd, 12d to 15d;. medium (40.44) 7Ad to 10Jd, 82d to 10|d; seedy and inferior, 3|d to 7d, 52d to 7Ad. Bellies and pieces.—Crossbred, good to super, 4Ad to 63d, 7Jd to 10id; low to medium, 3d to 4d, 4d to 7d; crutchings, medium - good, 4d to ssd, s|d to 6id; inferior and seedy, 3d to 4d, 3Ad to sd; locks, 2£d to 3Ad, 3d to 4d.

YESTERDAY’S WOOL SALE.

Nov. 29 Jan . 8 .Southdown .... 161 181 19 211 Fine crossbred 46/48 super 91 14 121 141 Average 9} 11 11 131 Inferior 74 S3 81 10 Medium crossbred 44/46 Super . . . . 12 131 Average 8J 11 9 121 Inferior 6 n 7 9 Coarse crossbred 40/44 super . . . . 10 ioa Average 7 81 9 101 Inferior 51 61 71 81 Low crossbred 36/40 super 7 8 si 91 Average 64 7 7 81 Inferior 41 51. 61 73 Hoggets fine 46/48 91 14 10 151 Medium 44/46 . . Si 121 9 131 Coarse 40/44 63 S 8 3 101 Low 36/40 .... 6i 7 71 91 Lambs, Down, 50/56 15 153 Fine 44/50 91 12 12 ■ 15 Medium 40/44 71 101 83 103 Seedy & inferior. . n 7 53 71 Bellies and pieces crossbred good to super 41 6 3 71 101 Low to medium . . 3 4 4 7 Crutchings modium .. to good .... 4 51 51 61 Inferior & seedy . . 3 4 31 5 Locks 2h 31 3 4