TRAVEL IMPRESSIONS.

Shannon News, 4 June 1929, Page 3

TRAVEL IMPRESSIONS.

MR T. r. GIBSON ADDRESSES THE LUNCH CLUB. The May meeting of the Levin Chamber of Commerce Lunch Club took place at the Oxford rooms on Friday, when Mr C. S. Iveedwell presided. The speaker for the day was Mr T. F. Gibson, who recently returned from an extended tour abroad. In intiodueing Mr Gibson, the chairman mentioned that he was the founder and father of the Lunch Club and all the members were glad to welcome him home after his trip. Mr Gibson said he appreciated the honour—for such he regarded it—of being asked to address the Lunch Club and thanked the members for the opportunity. After leaving Wellington for America, their first port of call was Rarotonga in the South Sea Islands, in which he .took particular interest ,as being under New Zealand’s own administration. For a beautiful, clean, tropical island, Rarotonga would be hard to surpass, and a pleasant feature was the evident happiness of the native people. The steamer could nbt got up to the wharf, but lay in the stream, where cargo was unloaded. He had never seen work carried on with such merriment and zest. The contrast between Rarotonga and Papeete, which was under French administration, was very marked. The latter was characterised by -dingy, dirty, and insanitary surroundings that were not at all attractive The chief industry in Papeete was copra production and the visitors were glad to get away from the odour that hung round the place on that account. After nine days’ travel they reached San Francisco where they got their first glimpse of the sky-scrapers that are so" prominent-a feature of city architecture in America., At first sight San Francisco reminded them of Welling-, ton, the precipitous mountains in the background, and the clear keen air, being noticaable. Earthquakes and fires had made the city very modern and it -was very progressive. A peculiar feature was the absence of butchers’ shops, the meat being sold in the markets. The great department stores handling many different lines were a noticeable development of commerce. These 'big flourishing businesses were out to make dividends and there was no such thing as competitive prices. The cutting of prices as practiced in some places in New Zealand was unknown there. Mr Gibson’s impression of the American businessman was very favourable in spite of the criticism one sometimes heard. He was an absolute gentleman who would do anything to help a visitor and he related the courtesy shown him by the v manager of the Bank of Italy in Sau Francisco in going out of his way to serve him when all the other banks were closed. Cleanliness was a feature in the city and all garbage had to be wrapped up before being placed in the tins, with the result that there was an absence of flies that was very noticeable. The water supply came from a source 300 guiles away. It was as though Wellington drew, its water from Hamilton. Los Angeles was easily the most attractive city in America, with its beautiful homes, gardens and public buildings. There wqre no ugly boundary fences between the houses and the gardens were maintained by the municipality, the owner paying a small rate for the service. The temperature only varied 15 degrees between summer and winter and with a, plentiful Avater supply the natural surroundings were very green and beautiful. Incidentally, Mr Gibson found that the, Los Angeles realty agents were the champion land salesmen of America. They did not wait for land-seekers to come to them, but went out and buttonholed prospective buyers, offering free automobile tours of the country with luncheons and musical programmes and lectures, and special financial arrangements for purchasers AA r ho Avanted assistance. Cheap tram fares were a feature m Los Angeles ana one could ride a A r ery long Avay for five cents (2£d). G;oing East, the ( trav'ellcrfc ‘passed through the Mojave Desert, Avlierc the temperature reached 140 degrees in the day time, and the heat Avas actually greater outside the railway carriage than within —so much so that the traveller Avas not alloAved to open the windoAvs until 10 or 11 o’clock at night when it Avas surprising hoAv cool the air had become and how refreshing the change Avas. Irrigation had. Avrought wonderful changes in parts of the country. . The Grand Canyon Avas traversed. This mighty chasm in the surface of the earth Avas 6000 or 7000 feet deep, thirteen miles across, and 100 miles in length. It had been made by the action of Avater and must have Jaken generations. In Kansas City the magnitude and organisation of the railway station —this being one of the great traffic junctions of the States —Avas very impressive.

Chicago was visited —a wonderful city with fourteen parks, one of 110 acres, and very beautifully kept with statues and memorials. The negro quarter was notable for its beautiful homes and high tone. Swift’s meat, works was inspected and was remarkable* for the absolute cleanliness of the surroundings and handling of the food stuffs packed there. New York lacked the genial attractiveness of the West, and the rowdiness of the city had something to do with the adverse opinion formed of it. The overhead traffic was distracting both in Chicago and New York and it took some time to get used to the conditions.

From New York, Mr Gibson crossed the Atlantic to England, having as fellow passengers many parties going to the Olympic Games at Amsterdam, and finding many congenial travelling companions amongst them. They landed at Plymouth and saw “Glorious Devon’’ in its autumn garb—a revelation of colour and charm to the travellers. The quality of the land was absolutely surprising even to one who was acquainted with such fertile country as

the Moutoa and Awapum. The visitors received a most cordial reception from their friends, and when they saw London they understood the fascination the great city held for English people who came out here. Mr F. E Parker moved a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker and expressed the hope that he would give the Club another instalment of his observations at a later date. The vote was carried by applause. . '