"NEW ZEALAND FOR ME."

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1920, Page 7

"NEW ZEALAND FOR ME."

A TRAVELLER'S IMPRESSIONS. "Christclmrch people don't know justllow much they have to be thankful for," said Mr. H. Hollander yesterday in conversation with a Lyttclton Times representative. "For my part, New Zealand will do me in future. The standard of living here, the standard of comfort, and the home conditions are just a delightful change after some of the places and conditions which we saw during our twelve months' trip to Europe and America.

"Leaving New Zealand last January, we seemeed to be in the midst of strikes and riots at nearly every port we touched. Strikes in' Sydney, riots in Egypt, half the shops closed in Naples, Toulon half-paralysed by the [French railway strike, and a Spanish strike on at Gibralter—-we were glad when we landed at Plymouth. With so much trouble abroad we sometimes wondered whether we would ever get there. In England it wasn't so bad, yet there were scores of strikes among'st trades and professions we would never otherwise have heard of. We spent several months in London, and found conditions the reverse of pleasant in many ways. To rent a flat was very difficult. They were so scareo that often a would-be tenant had to buy at an extortionate price the whole of the furniture before he could obtain possession. Living cost much more than here. Foodstuffs and clothing were dearer. This suit cost me £l4; it can be made in Christclmrch easily for £l2. Of course, there <jre many lines selling at low prices, but in every case I investigated the quality was so poor that the stuff wouldn't sell here at. all. I saw a statement in a London newspaper that petrol was going up to Gs a gallon. "We noticed a big difference in the price of meals. Here a man can go into a restaurant and have a good 'square' dinner for eighteeiipence. But the man who sits down in a place of a similar grade in London will spend eighteenpence and go out hungry. A grilled steak, a roll, and a cup of'coffee cost 2s Od to 3s 6d.

"Shopping in London is very difficult. Hundreds of lines are unobtainable. People are much better served by the shops in Christchureh, as a general rule. We had opportunities of seeing how the poorer classes are housed. It was dreadful. I'd rathei forget it, and remember Christchureh, where nearly everyone seems able to have a detached villa, a bit of garden, bright flowers, and plenty of sunshine, instead of being caged up in tiny tenements, in narrow, shaded streets, scarcely ever decently lighted by the sun. "Visiting Paris after • sixteen years' absence, I found it very greatly changed —for the worse. But although poverty is apparent the peoplo are not depressed. The city is a city of darkness, compared with the brilliant illuminations I remember when. I lived there twenty years ago. Even the cafes are poorly lighted, with only one electric bulli where there should be four or five. In the old days pleasure and gaiety were everywhere—now you have to look for it.

"I. would like to blot out America from my recollections. The peonle are living there at a furious rate. ' It isn't natural. Everything is terribly dear. You can reckon a dollar will b'uv you a shillingßworth.. Canada we ' liked better. My boy looked out when we were crossing "the frontier from the State to Canada, and was enthusiastic when he saw the British Flag flying. We all seemed happier right away. We were in Toronto, Winnipeg, Banff, ai.d Vancouver. The country appeared protperous, and British Columbia was the most English-like part we st- u-;ic. Wc found the average people at Home •knr-'v little ahcut New Zealand, and most believed it to be a part of Australia. We ran do with more advertising of New Zealand at Home yet. "Coming back to Ohristchurch we have, noticed many improvements. New buildings have gone up and others have been enlarged. The country seems prosperous. There is plenty of' money about. Shopkeepers are busy. The womenfolk are happy-looking and welldressed, and the children are a treat to look at—so fine and healthy. Altogether. I am satisfied that the average New SSealander doesn't know quite how w«li off ho ii., when bit let is eemptoid