CHEAP LIVING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 275, 24 February 1941, Page 5

CHEAP LIVING

A MAORI HOLIDAY ENLIGHTENING THE PAKEHA A BEACON representative, recently encountered a burly Maori from Te Teko, Avho Avhilst strolling along Ohopc's golden strand (traditional style) enquired the AA'hercabouts of the pipi beds. A SAveetp of the hand indicated that the bed extended the full length of the beach, and when the scribe olfereid to assist materially by taking the visitor out into the waves and collecting the shell fish, Flori became communicative. As near as can be recollected the following instructive information on how to giA r e the family a holiday at the seashore ac less cost than to have" them at home Avas given gratis by the Maori friend Avho insisted on conversation despite the buffeting of the Avaves: — You Pakeha, save up the money to go the holiday*. We different, we take the holiday AAiien we go broke or nearly. Look, I going to give the j family holiday at the beach. Wahine and the four children, camp on the Native land. We borroAV tent, no rent. What they liA r e on—ah look at the pipi—tons of pipi. We buy bread and butter and have milk given to us too. I bring some foAvls from home too. What feed the fowls on? Why Avhat the pipi for. Best feed they can get. So you see, now we get fresh eggs, fish, pipi, bread, butter, -milk, Avhat mora you AA'-ant. No tinned food, no meat—'just pipi and AA'hat the pipi can feed. Clothes, no Ave don't buy clothes. Why you need clothes at beach. Kids don't, anyAvay. No money needed buy clothes, only little for food because pipi free but plentiful. Ah, that better food than chocolate, SAveets, cake and all rest you pakeha buy. 11 bet my children run faster than yours, I bet they don't get so sic*k often. You see 1 give them better food, better health, for less, much less money. Now Avho is the Avisest the Mtiori or the Pakeha? I bet you can't argue, but I bet you still go on Avorrying lioaa t to get more, money to buy your family AA'hat it don't really need and Avhat goes on making it sick." He departed with a grin lugging the heavy sack, and left the Avriter ruminating, and thinking, thinking, so that at last he has taken up pen and paper to tell the At I lie same time he has an uneasy feeling that in some respects a so-called inferior race is quietly laughing up its sleeve, at the undermining habits of the proud people Avho T iave the habit of looking dOAvn their noses at honest simple diet.