Mexborough and Swinton Times, January 7,  1938

Canada Good –But England Better
Wombwell Man’s Impressions
Six Months’ Stay

Mr. Joseph Sugden, of 165 Hough Lane, Wombwell, a retired glass-worker, returned to England recently from a six months holiday in Canada. His chief object in making the trip was to visit his son, Mr. Jack Sugden, who lives in Toronto, but while in Canada he travelled hundreds of miles by train, ‘bus and boat, made four separate visits to Niagara Falls, which he saw during the period of illuminations, anc. also spent a few moments in the States.

He told a reporter of this paper how he touched the border in the vicinity of Niagara and actually crossed the international line, but only to turn round the car. Under no pretext whatever would the boundary officials let him pass. “Nobody will get into the United States or into Canada without permission,” he said. The watch on the frontier is keen and ceaseless.” He said the police on both sides carry firearms and they have no need to say “Stop” more than once. At any rate, he did not want telling twice. He was told, however, how he could get over the line for a short visit by paying two dollars to the proper authority the money to be returned to him later. Under that rule the production of passports is essential and the stay must be strictly limited. But he has been four or five yards on United States territory and is proud to be able to say that technically he had visited that country.

No Place Like England.

The summary of Mr. Sugden’s impressions of Canada is that it is a wonderful country of enormous possibilities but not so comfortable to live in as England. “I shall visit Canada again at the first opportunity,” he said, “but I do not I think I should like to settle there. My impression is that there is no place in the world like England.”

Mr. Sugden retired about twelve months ago after working at Wood Brothers’ glass-works, Wombwell, for nearly thirty years His son, Mr. Jack Sugden, who was formerly a draughtsman at Wombwell Main Foundry, went out to Canada ten years ago and is now employed in the same capacity at a refrigerator works in Toronto.

Mr. Sugden, who has never been out of England before, made the crossing in the Duchess of Athol and returned by the same boat.