IT CAN BE DONE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 165, 27 May 1940, Page 5

IT CAN BE DONE

LESSON ON FRUGAL LIVING F AMI LIED MAN'S RISE To arrive in Whakatane jusll twelve months ago, with a wife and family of three small chil« dren, without a stick of furniture, and only 3/4 to his name* and now to own his own section, with temporary home thereon, and with the framework of ai permanent house already erects ed and paid for—such is the experience of a young married man from Australia, who to-day is well on the way to complete independence and who can boast, that he owes not any man. A BEACON" representative happened to stumble across the story and becoming intrigued decided to follow it up. The whole tale though it sounds incredible in these times of high prices, is absolutely correct in every detail, and serves to show that the so-called hard times which we are experiencing are still a veritable state of Utopia to many avlio have learnt the laws of thrift and 'denial j The family had experienced considerable hardships in Australia where they contend there still remains a large army of unemployed and where the competition in all classes of work is very keen. After saving sufficient to bring themselves and their three infants to New Zealand they had all but exhausted their slender means when they arrived in the Bay of Plenty. Work found ' without much trouble, and a small Maori shack was rented for 10s weekly. Bush furniture and wire netting bunks served the family for five months, till £38 had been saved with which to buy a section. Careful study of the family bud-* get resulted in timber being pur-, chased for the construction (by"the man) of a large garage to which the family removed, thus saving themselves the necessity for paying rent. Little by little more timber was purchased until as it could be afforded sufficient was obtained to run up the framework of a fairly commodious dwelling. Now this is gradually being covered in, and will in time become the permanent home That this miracle has been accomplished without incurring a single debt, in spite of the living expenses for five persons serves to indicate that the old spirit of the pioneers is not dead yet, and that there §Till' live in these modern times, people who by force of will, and the determination to succeed, can fend for themselves, and in twelve short months find a home and property* for themselves after starting from after starting from bedrock.