An American Opinion.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 4, 6 January 1904, Page 4

An American Opinion.

»C. Victor S. Clark, rh.D., who recently visrted this colony under commission by the United States Government to inquire into tho conditions New 'has presented hv» report to his department. The result of his investigations is embodied in an elaborate report of about 27J) pages. Wscoursing on the domestic 6 ,d0 of affairs, he savs ■- # The standard of living j n " the •our principal cities does not differ appreciably f, om that in towns nL» ! Sa !" B B , ize in the Northern Btates of tho union. There nr" ,Wi J m,lvidual establishments or industries that dominate a m.<B*, kictolity. One ££ to hunt to find out what the people are doing in a colonial town. Tlie workmen live in detached cottages in W>my auhuHte, and the Wient houqe «nd t'ho slum are practically unknown. There is not great elesance of life, not much contrast in m economic condition of the people, but tho samo abundant material comfort that one meets in the prosaic but busy railway an(l commercial towae of tiie Upper Mississippi Vailey. Tho people are more homogwi*. ous than anywhere i» America. There is no fringe of unassiimlated foreiewrs on Wio outskirts of societv. Hut there is al|>o less push and bustle and verwf in business, aim! a glrcater remoteness from wider world interrats, than is found anions; Americans. A man in the colony seeins more inclined to,stay in the g raci„ in which he was born." In a chapter dealing with labour conditions, )»■ speaks of tne farm arid station hands thus Agricultural labour has a grievance in Xew Zealand, which at present it is airing in the newspapers on ■account of the contrast between Us own condtOon of work, with long hours, comparatively low pav, and almost no holidays, .and the" many advantages and privilegvs secured by urban workmen aitd skilled mrelianics through tho Arbitration Court awards. These labourers are in practically the same condition as the same class of .workers in our own country. They rise early and work latifr, arid have Sunday chores, and an unusual stress of toil at busy seasons of the year."