A TRIP TO ENGLAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 275, 18 November 1914, Page 8

A TRIP TO ENGLAND.

MR FOCKES ON TOUR. Mr T. C. Fookes, who .returned on Monday afternoon from a trip to England, was good enough to give a "Post" representative some account of his doings while absent from New Zealand.

Mr Fookes said they had avoided excitement on both trips across the ocean—on neither did they hear or see anything of a ship of war, hostile or friendly. They returned in the Blue! Funnel liner Ulysses, a vessel of 14,500! tons, though the homeward trip was made in the Norddeutscher Lloyd steamer Friedrich der Grosse. They were happy in being able to change to the Blue Funnel liner. When the war broke out there was a stampede of those holding Norddeutscher return tickets for the return of their return passage money, but this was refused, aild tlie German company also expressed a doubt whether the tickets could be transferred to another line, so that ■ they were agreeably surprised when the transfer to the Blue Funnel line was offered. The trip to England was made via Suez and the return trip via

the Cape of Good Hope. On the return trip everybody was in good heart, a feeling of confidence being apparent, and nobody seemed to have any fear of Hostile warships. The port-holes were obscured at night, a metal, disc being placed on the inside, but the light went on as usual inside the cabins; passengers suffering no inconvenience from the fact that it was not desired to allow lights from the ship to show over the water. Ths accommodation on/ the Ulysses was all that.could be desired, and one feature very much appreciated by all was the almost unlimited deck space. Mr Fookes was in London when war.was declared, and remained there until September 14th, when the party left on the return to New Zealand. There was tremendous excitement in London when war was declared, and it was feared that a panic might ensue, but nothing of the kind occurred. Mr Fookes was impressed, in common with the majority of people, with the great calmness of 'the people of London. A general remark of people one met was that the Germans would never get to London, in fact, the people who stayed in London said they felt safer there than in any other part of ' the Empire. Naturally the city was in a state 'bordering on military occupation—sentries with fixed bayonets were everywhere. All the chief public buildings were guarded by sentries, and many buildings, especially the Post Offices, were further protected by wire netting, to guard against aeroplane bombs. Waterworks and' similar places were also guarded by soldiers. Enormous numbers of special constables were enrolled to serve in addition to the regular police and the military. Immediately on the outbreak of war the bankers met, and at their request, in order to prevent a financial panic, the Government passed special legislation enabling the banks to close for a .week,. The banks were closed from one .Monday to the following Saturday, uid the Government issued pound and ten shillings notes,' which were made legal tender. When the banks re-open-ed business was re-established to such A degree that there was no run or panic, though they were natural!} busy dealing with work which had accumulated during the week they were .diut. Bi*siness then proceeded as usual, and' during the six weeks Mi Fookes was in London business was carried on just as if there was no war in progress. But a feature that showed something extraordinary was afoot ivas the special editions of the newspapers, which seemed to come out every minute, and the streets were alive with newsboys, who, naturally snough, in order to incerase business, greatly exaggerated in their cries the news they were vending. News spread in a perfectly wonderful manner in Lolulon, and news seemed to be known all over the City long before it was published by the newspapers. Just before Mr Fookes left London big gumwere mounted on all the high buildings for the purpose of dealing with a hostile air fleet: An air patrol traverseci the city every night. Some, of tin bigger lights had been discontinued in order to give less indication to hostile airmen of the position of the bigger buildings. Among the people there was an evident keenness to etc bhejir share "in connection with the wai : —every man, woman, and child seemcc * to be doing their best for the country I There was no hanging back. It hac ! been said that recruiting was slow, but Mr Fookes was of opinion that this was merely because at first the people die \ not really recognise the seriousness o • the war. When the people heard o the slaughter and atrocities in Belgiun recruiting went on quickly. This new: was one of possible incentive! to recruiting. As far as Mr Fooke: could judgg recruiting was going on aj a highly satisfactory pace. Mr Fooke ' saw a great many New Zealanders ii ;; England, among them being Dr. Car bery, Captain Lampen, and Mr R Spence. He also met Mr Cook, for . merly resident Public Works Engineei in Stratford, who was on his honey moon at thetime. It was astonishingsaid Mr Fookes, how one met Nev Zealanders in London. On the mprninj of his arrival there he was walking it] the Strand and met Mr Bedford, for merly Collector of Customs at Nev Plymouth, and Mr Quilliam, of Nev ' Plymouth. He also saw a letter in on. of the newspapers signed by Mr P. I' . Gorki]], of New Plymouth, who wa: writing in reference to a coincident at a golden wedding celebration ii Taranaki, similar to one recorded ii 'England by the paper. Mr Fookc: Wmet Dr. Carbery, Captain Lampen :■'' and Mr Spence at the meeting o Anglo-New Zealanders called by tin High Commissioner, the Hon. T. Mac . ketizie. The meeting was called for tin , purpose of deciding on steps to b< taken to look after New Zealand con

tingents arriving in England. Here also Mr Fookes met a great many people he knew very well, including a number of Wanganui people. I!ac meeting was ol a hearty nature, and the attendance numbered somewhere in the vicinity of a thousand—the. large room was crowded and there were also large numbers in the corridors. The High Commissioner presided over the meeting, and there were also present two ex-Governors of New Zealand (Lords Plunket and Islington), Sir Joshua Williams and Mr W. P. Beeves. Stirring patriotic addresses were given and a large committee was formed to raise funds to help New Zealand contingents when they arrived in London. The committee would also keep in touch with the contingents when in the field, and would see to the welfare of men who were invalided. They desired that New Zealanders going to the front should know that they had friends in England iwho would do all Jdiey could for them. The meeting was held some time after the outbreak of war, when things were becoming lively at the front. "The New Zealanders in England," said Mr Fookes, "felt that they should combine and do as a body what they could for New Zealand soldiers; and I have no doubt but that they are now doing a groat deal of good work in that direction." (To be continued.)