ENGLAND’S PRESTIGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 622, 26 March 1929, Page 15

ENGLAND’S PRESTIGE

STANDS HIGH WORLD OVER

MR E. E. VAILE’S IMPRESSIONS

return after long tour

r.ie prestige of Englishmen all over -,,e world has left a lasting impression with Mr. E. E. Vaile. He returned to Auckland by the Maunganui this morning from a world •our which included visits to Canada, ..„ United States, England, Scotland, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, tustria, Hungary. Switzerland, Italj-, Greece. Egypt, Palestine, Syria, India in d Australia, The English may not be loved but they are respected in all parts of the world," he said, “and they can always bu y- goods by clieciue.’’ As an instance of this Air. Vaile said ,e bought some goods in Damascus but found afterwards that he had no change. “Give me your cheque.” said the shopkeeper, “I've never lost a penny on an Englishman’s cheque.” It was the same in Cairo and the same in India,” said Mr. Vaile. “An Englishman's cheque is always good.' 1 Speaking of conditions in England, Mr. Vaile said that the unemployed problem was dreadful and that everyone was afraid to tackle it. He states that at least 2,000,000 people are out of work, though the published figures show only those who are insured. In the North of England the condition of some of the villagers was desperate. Many of the men had not worked for years, and in a considerable number of towns half the population was living on charity. Mr. Vaile did not sec much evidence of advertising New Zealand goods, btr* lie read in the newspapers of some interesting figures showing that half the Pheese, one-third of the butter, half the lamb and half the honey imported into England came from this Dominion. Everywhere he went New Zealand was spoken of in the highest terms. On the Continent Mr. Vaile found everybody working hard. "Workers there were content to toil for less wages than in England and for two hours a day longer. That was why the Continent was becoming England's greatest competitor.

In Palestine Mr. Vaile was impressed by the wonderful way England controlled affairs. “She does it with 150 military police and a small air force.” he said, "and yet in Syria the French have 75.000 troops and armoured cars patrolling the roads. Damascus was surrounded by barbed-wire entanglements.”