LAND OF CONTRADICTION

Chronicle (Levin), 1 July 1947, Page 5

LAND OF CONTRADICTION

Correspondent,). '

N.2, A Fiue Place If You Are NotMarried

(Special

Receiveid Monday, T.Q p.m. LONDOa1, June 30, In an article iu the Uaily Maii on Nevy ^ealaud, the M.ail's Pacjde correspoucient, Mr. Lachie MeDonaid, who graduated to Fleet Street from New Zealand journalism, says- that the fate of the New Zealand Labour Goveninient d.urmg the next three years depends upon its ability to c'onvince party rebels aud those who want to go iupther to the Left, that the "Government must be for the farmers and other seetion's of the commun-: ity besides city unionists. New Zealand farmers today are angry where onqe they were toler-

ant or merely critieal. "Labour has done a great deal to improve the copntry in 13 years since I last liyed here," says Mr. MeBoiiald. "There is plenty of good foo.d, of course, and compared with the weariness of the Umted Kingdom, the chaos in Europe, China and India, and the writhings of Burma, New Zealand is a dreamland. But Government painphleteers don't tell you how difficult it is to get a doctor after six o'elock at night, how hundreds of badly needed State houses are empty because the Government hasn't had baths or sinks installed and won't let them till they are installed, and how you simply cannot flud an opefi shop on Baturdays 'or Sundays. "■ •"New Zealand today is a country of curious contradjctions. • It is a hue place for single people who are getting plenty of monev and plenty of leisure hut many married eouples with young families are worried at the rising cost of living. It is a country where the 'Government at one moment clamps the brake on inflation and in the next circulates miilions of additional pounds by forcing the people to sell land and other nssets tn the Rt'ate. It is a place.

unlike Britain, where you are t'orced to givo up meat coupons iu restanrants but where you ean still get a big steak or fried oysters for the equivalent of half-a-ci'own sterkng while the waitress usually negleets to ask you for your coupons,"