Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1901-05-09
People Prosperous, Country Developing
Under Government Ownership
Cities Flourishing.
Noted Correspondent Tells About
Things as They are Great
Trade Possibilities.
Says Consul Bray Should Keep Us
Better Informed on Trade
Openings.

Minneapolis Sunday Times, gives
another interesting letter in the series
from New Zealand. Carpenter has
been all over the world and his
letters are about the most reliable and
interesting Of any of the famous cor
respondents. His descriptions OF Asia,
North and South America have been
prepared for schOO! use by the Ameri-
can Book company and are standard
text books for supplementary school
reading.
Mr.. Carpenters last letter gives a
good deal about the cooperation and
governmental policies that are de-
veloping the great island of New Zea-
land, and which have made the peo-
pie of that country the most prosper
Gus on earth, Mr.. Carpenter says the
trade OF New Zealand is ready to fall
into the lap of the United States if
our business men would only go after
it, He adds:
New Zealand contains less than 800,
600 people, but it has the greatest
spenders on the face OF the globe. One
family here buys more than three in
Russia, almost twice as much as one
in Germany, and more than tenfOld
the amount OF the average family OF
South America. India, China or the
Philippines.
The Russians spend $50, the Italians
S5S, the Swiss 800 and the Dutch and
Germans each just about SlOO per
head per year. The French have each
an annual expenditure of Sll9, the
Belgians 1927 and the English less
than $3.50. The greatest spenderS are
the Americans, $l64.50: the Austral-
ians, at Sl67.5O and the New Zealand
ers, at Sl76. One hundred and seven
ty-six dollars a head is $3.50 per family.
the highest of any nation or people
anywhere. Compare this with the
Chinese, some of whose families live
on 81 a month the year through, and
you get some idea OF the value OF this
trade. which annually amounts in eX-
ports and imports to almost S100O0O,-
600.
In travelling through New Zealand
I see everywhere evidences Of this ex-
travagance. The people are we'll
dressed. Their houses are comfort.
able and their towns have all the
accompaniments of modern civiliza-
tiOn. There are not many large cities,
1000 and 1000 each and dozen per-
haps ranging between 1000 and 10000.
AS to the cities, Auckland is the
lor !, OH 10
tion. 1t has wide. Well-paved streets,
great business blocks, public library,
a botanical garden, clubs and societies,
schools Of all kinds and churches ga
lore. 1t has climate like Naples and
more rich men to it's population than
any other town of New Zealand. Well
ington, the capital is farther down on
the same island on Cook strait. 1t
has $4,000 and is growing faster than
any other city of New Zealand. 1t
has steamship lines to all parts of the
world and does a great trade.
The next largest city is Christchurch
with $4,000. Dunedin is Scotch town
of 10000. People are out Of debt and
have money in the bank. Carpenter
says:
All the New Zealand cities are well
built. They have their theaters, IL
brarieS and stores, their banks and
their factories. Every one has it's
cricket club and it's recreation grounds
and many have botanical gardens.
There are saloons and hotels as we'll as
churches. and the people devote large
part OF their time toeniOyment. The
eight hour day gives plenty of leisure
night and morning. The man stops
work in time to dress up for the even
ing if he SO wishes.
Our trade is increasing and now
amounts to about s4O,OOO.0O0 a year.
Great Britain has the bulk of the
trade, Australia next, United States
third. There are some American
drummers who report good business
and are doing WE'LL Americans are
selling printing paper. machinery, BIZ
cycles, carpenters tools. steel rails.
The government has bought largely of
our cars and engines for the govern
ment of New Zealand owns and oper-
ates all the railroads. Electrical sup
plies are also largely from America,
and many towns are putting in cleo
trio lights. Watches, typewriters,
clocks and shoes, from the United
States are slowly being introduced.
American shoes are in big demand
and are advertised as high as 81 pair.
The government of New Zealand will
eventually control all the street car
and electric light plants. 1t builds
bridges, and will soon operate coal