“A GREAT THRILL”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 810, 2 November 1929, Page 6

“A GREAT THRILL”

AUCKLANDERS SEE SCHNEIDER CUP RACE LAND VALUES IN ENGLAND With their oto wireless set beside them Mr. and Mrs. Neville Newcomb saw and heard the whole of the wonderful air race for the Schneider Cup on the Solent. They returned to Auckland yesterday afternoon by the Rangitiki .after spending 18 months abroad visiting England, France, Italy and Switzerland. Mr. Newcomb said yesterday that they had seats at the base and saw the start of the Schneider Cup race. It was really a great thrill. With their own wireless set beside them they were able to follow perfectly the whole account of the contest. During their stay in England Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb took a house in one of the most lovely parts of the New Forest, in Hampshire. Mr. Newcomb was interested in the valuation of land and farms and he inspected quite a number and interviewed several of the leading land agents to discuss with them the various valuation of properties. He said lie wished to see how the values compared with those of New Zealand and he found, after gaining a good deal of information, that English values were much lower than ours. He also found that the larger the property in England the cheaper the price.

In the South of England there was practically no unemployment and the people were happy and contented. They were rather too independent, he thought, and labour was difficult to engage. In the North, however, there was a good deal of distress because of the trouble in the coalfields. When he left England this was passing and the outlook was brighter. People in England took the general election with calm excitement, said Mr. Newcomb. They knew there would be a change, but they did not know which way it would go. After the election and the advent of the Labour Government everybody became cautious and shy, but now they were becoming reconciled to the Labour Party carrying on. “Politics in England are a Punch and Judy show at present,” commented Mr. Newcomb. “Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Snowden are making a spectacular show in Older to convince the Labour followers that they aro doing something.” He remarked that it was almost impossible to obtain seats at any of the big theatrical productions or at any of the other amusements. Apparently there was plenty of money available for amusement. Speaking of business and finance, Mr. Newcomb said that on his way through Canada and the United States he heard much comment on the subject of a financial crash in tile States. He talked with many Americans and they told him that tho crash was only a matter of time. Everything in the States was over-valued, he thought. There was such an accumulation of wealth that no one knew what to do with it. Many business men with whom Mr. Newcomb talked said that when the crash came they hoped England would not become involved in it. The accumulation of wealth in the United States had resulted in the formation of trust companies which were financing the erection of huge buildings. He saw buildings of 15 storeys being pulled down to make way for others twice as high. People were buying shares in them and were not getting an adequate return for their money. Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb have, left their youngest son at Canford College in England to finish his education.