A TRAVELLER'S DON'T.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3384, 13 January 1920, Page 7

A TRAVELLER'S DON'T.

EXPERIENCES IN EUROPE HIGH PRICES AND POOR SERVICES. "P" l Discussing his Cxperiences While, abroad, Mi. Harold Beauchamp, chair? man of the Bank of New Zeaiaud, remarked. “If anYOIIO asked niy advice about visiting Europe now or in the near future, I 311011“ giVe him the same reply as that giVCII many‘ years I ago by ‘Punch’ to those -about to] marry, ‘Don’t.’ Steamers, railways, hotels. and accommodation houses in England and on the Coiififiet are all _ucomforta.bly crowded, everything is more expensive than it has been within the memory of man; food gen~ erally is sparse inl~Clilalltl°‘fy’ and indifferent in- quality; ‘tips have reached the outside limit. and services, even if you 3-;.;.r prepal‘-ad" fo pay well for 'them, are grudingly given. True some people in France think that in com lvei-ting the poun'd"sterling into francs Eat the rate of'7'6 or even a fraction more to the pound, they are melting money, but the)’ 5”“ tluicklyl disillusioned when paying current rates rul-i ing for commodities or for board and ‘ lodgings. For example, a bottle or‘: Scotch or Canadian rye whisk_v of‘ first-class quality costs rCSp(‘C:t.ivel37‘ in 3. 1-reputable hotel in Mentonc 60‘ and 70 i°rancs, representing at the present rate of exchaxige. say, 35/ and 46/8 per bottle. Pereonallv I did not buy at those pi-fies, but contented myself with drinking the wine of ‘the country, modera.t<>. in price and e"xEeilent in quality. In moist parts of Europe acute discomfort and distress are being caused by t‘he’unpl-ece<lenter‘t scarcity of coal and Wood, both articles having reached famine prices. In some of the palatial -hotels I vi.s.ite<l on the 17‘1'ench a’n'(l' Italian Riviera it was most distressingr to see peoplc—many of the ffivalid class-—croWding round the fil'ep‘l".iEse, from which two or three small"pieces of wood——no coal, please note—\x"é?*'é*“i‘é‘served for ‘a whole evening. Coal, vrhen obtainable. was selling on the Riviera. from £ls to £l7‘ per -to-n_. and very poor qv.alit_v at 'th-2-‘.~. It is no affec.ta‘tion on im’ part to say that I‘ am truly glad to get back to my own country, and, am. more than ever impressed with its wonderful resources and potentiali~ ties.” '