AMERICAN PROSPERITY.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 October 1919, Page 7

AMERICAN PROSPERITY.

GREAT BOOM IN PROGRESS

HIGH PRICES. HIGH WAGES‘

A NEW ZE'ALANDER’S VIEWS.

! “A boom pel‘iod exists in Aniericex,” lsaid Mr T. W. May, an Auckland ‘architect, when discussing his recent [trip to the United States. “America {S(._.emS. to have most of the _money of “he world, and her people are spending lmost lavishly. I was told that wh'c3l'e lone person bought a motor~car before ithe war five want cars now, and the ;output of the factories cannot at prelS€’l'lt_ meet the denland-” New Zealand had no cause for complaint about the ‘price of labour when American conditions were compared, continued Mr May. Tradesmen in the United States received from £1 53 to £2 a day, and still labour was searce_ The cost of living was very high, how-ever-—so ‘high, in fact, that it visitor could only wonder what the ultimate result, would be. Good hotel accoininodation could not be got for less than £2 a day, and the 1":.1t:es for casual board and meals were more than double the corresponding rates in New Zealand. Mr May said he could not give the reasons for the higheost of living, but he ‘believed the operation of combines and the “cornering,” of‘ supplies had a great deal to do with it. He had been informed that not long ago a Chinaman had “cornered” all the potatoes in California. ’

The gréat commercial activity was reflected in expenditure on public works. For instance the State Legislature in Califonia. was spending an—other £5,000,000 on roads, and this in 3. country where the roads were wonderffil to a New Zealander. Mr May referred to hundreds and hundreds of miles of concrete roads, the oiled surface ‘bf which resmebled pofished glass through the wear of motor car Wheels.. He mentioned that on acoccasion of the peace celebrations in Vancouver, Where the roads were of the same quality, the authorities fenced off a part of a roadway for dancing

“‘The bulk of the population in the towns I visited,” said Mr May, appear to live in flats. This certainly is the most up—to-date mode of living from their point of view. Some of the structures house as many as 200 families. Asked if it were not contemplated to erect buildings for ffats in Auckland Mr May said there were some proposals in that direction, but he added that -he would be sorry to see the flat system of living adopted here as generally as It wéis in ‘America, be-‘ cause home life was assuredly lost to a great extent. Many people who lived in flats in American cities were using their savings to buy motor cars when it would: 'be much better if they put their money into a house of their own. “The Deople of California are very friendly towards New Zealand,” added Mr May, "and they are anxious for an exchange 01'.‘ trade.” M