THROUGH NEW ZEALAND EYES

Shannon News, 23 December 1924, Page 3

THROUGH NEW ZEALAND EYES

CONDITIONS IN U.SJE CARPENTERS:GET £2 PER DAY.

Wages are still high in America, according to Mr C. Davey, ate bf Palmerston North, who returned on the Niagara after spending two years in the U.S.A. Carpenters earn the equivaent of £2 per day, but the cost of living is also high. As an instance, Mr Davey stated that the subscription to a trade union was’£ 6. . Some of the unions ‘ fixed their subscriptions even higher, many of the meihbers paying 500 and 800 dollars. The spirit of trade unionism' in America was essentially' conservative definitely anti4Bolsheviik:‘' There was a very friendly spirit. towards Australia and New Zealand. At the same time the lack of knowledge of New Zealand was appalling, tar , Davey had written to a 1 Cabinet’ Minister in New Zealand suggesting that " ‘the expenditure of £IOOO in' U.S.A. would prove of inestimable value, h . Referring to the K.K.K., Mr Davey said ihe had seen their open-air meetings] and on*’the occasion of the elocution .he had sben the'fiery crpss alight It was'an inspiring spectacle. The Klan tood for 100 per cent Americanism. It was greatly feared by some factions, but had done good work, despite reports concerning extreme measures. The commercial element had i been purged' and many l of the besti type of * American citizens were how) members! a

Speaking on prohibition, Mr Davey said! he thought it was a success. A captain of the "police' in 'Washington had t given Mr Davey his first drink. ' Mexico .was ‘' now p, 'more' settled country. All the talk about revolutions was ■’‘buhk." ; Thete were a good number of minor ? ribts,’; but there were no uprisings oY a revolutionary nature. 1 The president-elect, '--Gales,was ,a staunch Conservative.