STRANGE CONTRASTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1920, Page 9

STRANGE CONTRASTS.

POST-WAR CONDITIONS IN EUROPE. MR. H. BEAUCHAMP'S EXPERIENCES Post-war conditions in Great Britain were described by Mr. Harold Beauchamp, who has just returned to New Zealand after a visit to Europe. "I found England most changed after an absence of seven years," said Mr. Beauchamp, "and everything seemed to be, more or lessen a topsy-turvy condition. If one had no knowledge of the stupendous indebtedness, occasioned by iii .j greatest war in the history of nations, one would imagine, judging by the spending power of all classes of the community, that the country was in a state of abounding prosperity. All the firstclass hotels and (whose tariffs have been increased enormously) are crowded daily, and one sees champagne at £2 per quart bottle, and other expensive wines, flowing like water. Theatres and picture show 3 are thronged also, the prices for seats, being far in excess of those ruling in this country. "This is certainly the day of the nouveau riche—people who liave made vast fortunes during the war, and they are signalising their accession to wealth by spending in the most lavish and ostentatious manner. Fancy prices are pa! 3 for racehorses, a yearling, a few months ago, bringing at public auction, the record figure of eleven thousand guineas. Further, there is much activity in real estate market, many fine old country properties being sold by le nouveau pauvre to le nouveau rtohe. MONEY NO OBJECT. "In mid-November, there was held a great show of motor-cars, at the Olympia, and this is how one of the leading London dailies writes tliereanent: — 'Crowds, crowds, and still more crowds! Under the brilliant, scintillating fairyland of lights which shed their glow over the vary latest in cars and chassis, which constitute the motor show at Olympia, was to-day a seething mass. As the day advanced only the boldest were able to move in either direction along the packed gangways. Outs'de were queues hundreds of yards long. Every stand was packed with prospective customers, in open cars of dainty lines and in the interior of beautifullyUpholstered limousines, many fur-clad ladies reclined in ease, while their menfolk discussed with the salesmen such practical items as bore and stroke of cylinders, overhead valves, petrol consumption,. electric starters and magnetos, aDd the thousand and one details which go to constitute the modern car. And at frequent intervals, the sales order book would appear, the deposit cheque would duly be handed over, and another gentleman had paid his monc}', and was duly installed on the waiting list.' As these lists grew, most manufacturers were chary of promising delivery by a certain date, although in some instances the longer the list ef purchasers, the more optimistic the promises became.

*Money seemed no object, the great problem was to secure early delivery. One young lady, with an income running well into twenty thousand a year was determined to get the most expensive car in the show, and equally determined to pay a handsome 'premium for early delivery. This is not an isolated instance. Everywhere the ery lvas early delivery, and vet nearlv the whole output for 19-20 of several of the hotter known makes had been booked on the first day of the show. Olympia has never known such prosperity and such crowds. Every manufacturer'wanted more space, and couldn't get it at any price. The public also are complaining of the emigration within the show, while salesmen, with their stands packed with prospective customers, and cithers mcH\ curious and critical, R0 about tncir lawful occupations in circumstances of great difficulty. Now the cry is for a mid-summer show, and in one of the great parks, where a huso canvas city could be established, ami v-.iere the latest- triumphs of British en'.vneermg could be given adequate stand "'"in, buyers permitted to inspect tlicin their leisure, instead of, as now, bein« ■mstJed and jostled in all directions! , y, Olympia at the moment can bo only endured with serious intentions of becoming car owners. There is no room tor mere onlookers.

Over JO.'),000 visitors attended tins show, and to give von some idea of tlie business done, it might be mentioned company booked orders for cars, delivery spread to the tune nf £<1,000.000; and, mind you. manufantJieid would not name a firm priee for future delivery-buyers had to undertake to pay the price ruling upon comf) etion of the car. A friend of mine placed an order for a Rolls-Koyce, for 1921 delivery. This was booked at the minimum price of £3IOO. Within a week he was advised that the price had been advanced by £250, and, when noli- £,'? s^ me ' the manufacturers gave the buv4r the option of cancelling his order ! le so desired. _ He elected to take the on the supplier's terms.

THE GOSPEL OF ECONOMY. t,lese conditions obtain, jeople in high places, Ministers of the Crown bankers, and others, are preaching daily the necessity of economy. They Joint out that, since signing the armistice, there is no sensible increase in the exports of Great Britain, whilst the imports largely owing to abnormal prices «t all commodities, are mounting up by caps and bounds. This adverse trade balance is reflected in the rates of exchange ruling in the United States of America and .Japan, both now creditor nations. In the United States the Brii5 1 sTP u ' Qrt ? tO - da? ' onl y ab °^ fn\r P "* ller ' the P QbKc are asked • faet tliat Wle National ' i,as ™en from £675.000,000, with £^ a^ U fin^ terest cha^e of timn £-0.000,000, to £S.OOO,OOO;0», the interononnn 5 wiU 6e at leaat yewfy. still, m epite of m w f 1 ! Un there is no at!l^, P i ! ec °o° m y, or earnest effort to . tUnulate piaductiveness.

BEStANDS B;r THE, WORKERS. cla^Hmr PV™ c'^SBS mpnt i r I sio^l -' r Ho-um Of emptov--,mei t and hagiier wa iges aecompaied Bw duumution of output, par aapifau iii I:- tlxe fatal 'g-oralbw'' poffiry . s wi evidence everywhere.. It must lie maLihtn" i ia *i tliaSU "options. arc to the Old, Country—Danlirupfccv. I am , m '+ thi " te ' ti,lat " lbn & !le - stage is neaclicd tOie working e I,BQOTOred ft»in. tlie flmm'wii Si,'' v <iWng tfie ww, adont *» 6 a " 01 ' Q * and "Will U „ 1 r I ' (!asona,l) lft attitude fe>Zit P ' a! i. ® w «""'y. mntk» wi«3,. cord,ally assisted l>v their qm- « oth acses ' lire ul> ' ea,l y >»<"■■ sllfrfjmg their forces with- a ig&w to recapturing- t,li e t ra d e they have lpst since * ?! le Wtbwk- qf" the war, i„ Wt, qnd wm. m Mm, »*. i mK

bound to have a' touicky effect upon the industrial life of Great Britain. i There is, I believe, very little chance °l alteration in the fiscal system of the Old Country. In the minds of most people, protection would enable manufacturers to indulge in profiteering to the same extent as they did during the war whilst Free Trade, with its inevitable competition, would force down the price of essential commodities. On the other hand, the advocates of protection argue that, under that, policy manufacturers ot every description would be encouraged to such an extent that, in course of tune, Great Britain would become a self-contained country, and that, with increased industrial activity, she would be able to absorb that great mass of unemployed which existed 1 in pre-war days. Moreover, under sortie system 0 f Governmental control steps could be taken to guard against profiteering. So far as I am concerned, I must confess I view with apprehension German and otuer competitors in Great Britain, but i! I V, q J Ul £ e lm P oss 'ble to get people in the Old Country to see eye to eye with one on this question, "It was my privilege to be in London during the great strike of railway men, which lasted for nine days. I say 'priviege, because it was a magnificent object lesson in organisation on the part of the Government. As by a magician's wand, thousands of motor-lorries appeared on the scene within a few hours of the men knocking off work. These were largely manned by volunteers, men and women, and they provided the means of tsansportation until the semblance of was re-eertablished. With the aid of motor lorries, milk and other farm produce was brought to the metropolis a distance of sixty" miles and over, with the result that there was little, if any, suffering from shortage ot supplies of food. True, rationing was reintroduced, but that entailed very little hardship on anybody, and then it was simply wonderful to see how the railway and tram services were revived by men and women volunteers. Within a, week most of these services were back to their old time-tables. The public were dead against the strikers irom the start, and it was easy to see that, without that backing, they were doomed to failure. Favored by beautiful weather, during the whole period of the strike, many people thought it no hardship to walk eight and ten miles daily to an d f rom their offices and places of employment, and wonderful distances were covered by many on motor and push bikes, and anything that would travel on wheels. Owners of private cars quite recognised the right of pedestrians, especially ladies, to hold up their cars, in crowded thoroughfares, and ask for a lift to or from the city. The thing that appealed to me most was the great good humor of the people, and their readiness to adapt themselves, without grousing, to all sorts of inconveniences. Although, as I have said, the strike lasted only nine days, it cost the country not less than £50,000,000. Dominion.