A TRIP HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 170, 5 December 1912, Page 6

A TRIP HOME.

SOME IMPRESSIONS. ' Mr. Chas, Ahier, of New Plymouth, returned on Tuesday from a visit to Jersey, after an absence of fifty years. "Now Zealand is the finest country in the world," said Mr. Aider to a representative of the "Taranaki Daily News." lie had, he continued, too much respect for New Plymouth people to trot out the old legend that Pukekura Park was the prettiest spot on earth. It was undoubtedly something to be proud of, but still other countries had attractions in the way of gardens equally beautiful. Neither did he wish to repeat the legend that Taranaki was the only country that could grow potatoes. lie found TARANAKI MEAT AND BUTTER highly appreciated in the Old Country, and, incidentally, he stated that the New Zealand meat lie saw in England was of far better quality than was supplied to the ordinary New Zealander by lu'3 local meat purveyor. "Our meat," he continued, ''is much more in favor than the American article, and the New Zealand butter has such a reputation that there is no necessity to sell it under a fictitious mime or brand." He scouted the allegation that New Zealand meat was sold as English. WELL ADVERTISED.

There was not now the ignorance con- ! cerning New Zealand as was the case a i few'years back. In fact, New Zealand j was well known and favorably spoken of in England. In place of' the old j yarn that New Zealand was generally ', considered an adjunct to, or an appendage of, Australia, Mr. Ahier exhibited a newspaper cutting in which Australia was described as an island off the coast of New Zealand! The New Zealand Agent-General's Office was, he considered, doing much to judiciously advertise New Mr. Ahier was in London just at the time that the change was taking place in the High Commissionership. In fact, the Hon. T. Mackenzie onlv arrived I in London the day before Mr. Ahier left Englaud. Mr. Ahier himself devoted considerable time to advertising New Zealand, although he took the trip for purely holiday purposes, and not as an immigration agent. He gave addresses at every available opportunity, speaking to about thirty audiences in Jersey and London, the attendances varying from 700 to 1000 on each occasion. He also on one occasion occupied the pulpit at a harvest festival. He was interviewed on numerous occasions, and everywhere found the people very attentive and interested in all lie could tell them about New Zealand. Had he been in a position to guarantee employment he could have secured several immigrants, but he referred them all to the Agent-General in London. He forcibly impressed on them that it was no use coming to New Zealand unless they were prepared to work.

WORKERS COMPARED. He considered that the Xew Zealander as a workman was far ahead of the Englishman—not that he was a better tradesman, but he was much quicker, and earned what he got. So, for that matter, did the Englishman, but then the latter only got half as much as the New Zealander. Naturally, as a joinery manufacturer, he took an interest in joinery establishments, and never lost an opportunity of visiting any that came within his reach. He was'much struck with the conditions obtaining at Colombo, where over 100 Tamils and Cingalese were employed. They worked seven days a week, 12 hours per day, for about 2s 6d. There were no unions there. Mr. Ahier said that they were quite cognisant of the facts of the" Waihi strike in England when he was there. TRADE BRISK. England seemed to have got over the depression caused by the recent big strikes. In fact, in Southampton while he was there a strike'was in progress, but unless one was mixed up in it, one did not know of its existence. He could not altogether blame the men. as their wages were so miserably small. Wherever he had been he noticed progress. There was an air of prosperity. Every town was marching ahead.

VALUABLE ADVICE. We did not make sufficient of the attractions of New Plymouth's beach. In many places where he had been the local bodies interested expended money in order to make the place attractive and draw people. In jersey, he instanced, thousands of pounds had been expended on the marine parade at the sea beach, with the result that during the few weeks he was in Jersey, fully five thousand people were arriving and departing every week. He had.the pleasure of witnessing the annual "battle of flowers," and it was a real function, for Jersey grows flowers for ,Covent Garden. This carnival was- attended -by. thousands upon thousands from , England, America, France and the Continent, as well as from the neighboring islands. Here, said Mr. Airier, we have a magnificent beach, but do not make the best of its opportunities. It was. the same with Alt. Egmont.

JERSES CATTLE. The interview could not conclude without a reference to the. cattle for which the island is so famous. Naturally, Jerseymen are proud of the fame that their beautiful cattle have achieved so far away from home' as' Taranaki. He attended some of the agricultural shows in Jersey and words failed to'describe the beautiful animals he saw. The evil of it was that all the best cattle were being bought up by the .Americans. Cattle with a good pedigree realised from 100 gns to 500 gns.