IMPRESSIONS OF TRAVEL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 26 November 1907, Page 2

IMPRESSIONS OF TRAVEL.

[XTKRViEW Will 111!. A. V. O'LEARY. '.Mr. A. P. O'Leary, of New Plymouth, returned the other day from a visit to ' Knglnnd and the Continent, whither he bad been on a buying mission for the .Melbourne Clothing Co., of which he is the director. A "News" reporter sought, him out. The man of business was on top when the conversation commented, but, abruptly leaving this topic, he branched oil into a most interesting talk about bin impressions of j Cermany.

A BAD ENCLISU SUMMER. First of all, Mr. O'Leary, said that be visited all the big industries and mifnufacturing centres of (treat Britain. The season had been one of the worst summers known in England for a great many years past, the weather being ruinously wet and cold. Tills, of course, limited demand for textiles, and the manufacturers had immense stocks lon hand. They were almost at their wits' ends, when this colonial buyer happened along with a fair supply of cash. The season for the goods having closed, and the firms being jambed for room, he was able to make almost bis own terms, and considerable quantities of goods at very cheap prices. Mr. O'Leary said that, apart from this unforeseen slump in summer goods, the manufacturing districts were busy and prosperous. He was treated- everywhere with the utmost courtesy, and had opportunities of looking over the big mills in Lancashire and the other manufacturing counties.

NEW ZEALAND FAVORABLY KNOWN.

As on his previous visits, he found New Zealand more and more favourably known, and information concerning our altairs was much sought after. Particularly was he, questioned concerning opening*, here for commercial enterprise. Mr. O'Leary was in the Old Country when the alterations were made in our Customs tariff, and this formed the subject, of a good deal of discussion amongst colonial shippers ...and others, who were glad to have a chat with a .New Zealander on the subject. As a result of these conversations with leading commercial men, Mr. O'Leary is of

opinion that the tariff changes should have the effect of inducing the investment of a good deal of outside capital | in the Dominion. The tariff, he said, had the effect of shutting out the English manufaetureres to a large extent, and if the Home firms wanted to keep their already large business with this country, they would have to engage in manufacturing locally. ''What lines think will be affected in such a way that we may hope to see their factories here?" asked the reporter. "Oh, hats, ties, umbrellas, ladies' costumes, and so on." Mr. O'Leary 6aid that New Zealand was generally more favourably spoken of than Australia as a field for capita], the Australian legislation being considered absolutely hostile to enterprise. New Zealand, with

all her socialistic legislation, was better spoken of. That was, lie said, a benefit conferred by our refusal to federate with Australia. He found many people desirous of coining to live under our happy climatic and other conditions, but Canada and West Australia were drawing the bulk of the emigrants by the great inducements offered to those who take up land. THE COLONIAL COXFEKENCE.

lie was naturally much interested, when in Loudon, in the doings of the Colonial Conference. He remembered the trades union group of the British M.P.'s issuing a manifesto at the time concerning preferential trade. On behalf of the British working man, they protested against some of what they culled the absurdities of the Colonial Premiers. The population of New Zealand, they said, was only about equal to that of Birmingham or Glasgow, Ausiralia's equal to about half London's. .Notwithstanding this, each country was represented by a Premier, who presumed to treat with Britain's forty millions as nation to nation, and resorted to threats in forcing their demands. The colonial Premiers demanded preference on products and manufactures, not foodstuffs only or raw material.This could not be given by England without altering the whole of her liscal system and taxing all foreign imports. 'There seemed, said Mr. O'Leary, to be some resentment at the -colonials' attempt to teach political economy to the English statesmen. Mr. Deakin had proposed an ingenious method of establishing a common fund, to be used for Imperial, but chiefly colonial, purposes. England was to contribute 4'/ a millions and the colonies only a few hundred thousand pounds. But this manifesto of the British workmen did not think I hey should contribute to their children beyond the seas—as Mr. Chamberlain called them—to this tune, and were not going to bo entrapped in such a fashion by men exploiting Imperial sentiment for tariff reform at the Home workers' expense. "That," said Mr. O'Leary, "was a very general view of the question at Home." Outside of business life, Mr. O'Leary found time to visit some of the beauty spots of England and Scotland. He was greatly impressed with the City of l&linburgh. But the greater part of his holiday period was spent on the Continent, in Germany. GERMANY.

lie had frequently visited the Father- [ land, and had acquired some knowledge of the language, so he was able to get a good insight into German affairs by coming into contact with people in commercial and other spheres of life, iieferring to the political aspect, he said the recent defeat of the Social Democrats was due to the realisation by the people that the Government could do more for them that the Social Democrats could over hope to do. The programme of the latter demanded reduced naval and military expenditure, reduced municipal taxation, the acquisition by the State of the public utility services, shortening the term of compulsory military service, and the abolition of the church tax.

"What about Anglophobia?" 'T can confidently say l found nothing resembling that hatred of England which is supposed to be general in Germany. I never heard an Englishman spoken of disrespectfully. On the contrary, the Germans were courteous and respectful in tone, and kindly in their treatment."

"What of the increased naval expenditure? What does it portend? "My opinion is that the increased naval expenditure is merely to keep pace with the great growth of the mercantile marine." The rapid advance of Germany's oversea trade necessitated a navy effective and powerful to protect it. Germans scouted the idea of any aggressive measures towards England, and laughed whenever Mr. O'Leary referred to the question. Referring to the proposal to shorten the term of

military training, Mr. O'Leary said that all the Germans he knew looked forward with the greatest pleasure to their military service, and the nation generally was intensely but sanely patriotic. "Is there anything else?" he asked. EDUCATIONAL METHODS. The reporter asked if Mr. O'Leary had had opportunity to study German educational matters, said to lead the world.

\es, he had. The Germans had a splendidly organised education system, and seemed to get the best results. There seemed more method than in our system, and there were many points which we might follow to advantage. "Will you mention one?"

''First of all," said Mr . O'Leary, "there's the neat style in which tlie pupils keep and carry their books. Then, as regards hours, the German schools opened at an earlier hour in winter than in slimmer. Children took up lessons at 7, and had a break in the morning for a. second breakfast, being dismissed from their studies at about 1

o'clock-. Tin's gave them greater opportunity for studies, outdoor recreation gynui.i-.iiiins, and so on. Then, n«'iiin lie did not tliink that teachers [here were paid according to the ravages of measles and influenza, as they were in this country. Their salaries were fixed apart altogether from the average attendance. It was a fixocl sum, and increase or dismissal was dependent upon (he results achieved. n nt in otlier ',.,,. spects our education system was superior Here there was ecmal' opportunity to all, independent of station or class, whilst the (Icrinan education systeiii was loaded witu class distinctions. I lie. remaining notes of a most interesting ehat are reserved for another occasion.