Miss Bright Lost Her Lustre in N.Z.

Chronicle (Levin), 10 February 1949, Page 5

Miss Bright Lost Her Lustre in N.Z.

LONDON, Feb. 9. "After eigiit moutlis of a life far m'ore nerveracking than the six years of war in Lngiand, i came back from New Zealand with nothing but bitter experience to'sliow for the expenditurc. of mortit thaii £400. I had intendod to settle the-re for life." So w^'ites Hiss Betty Bright, sehool teaeher, in the Daily Mail. Obviously, she says, the shipping companies must be profiting from the returning migrants, and goes on: "New Zealand is a beautif'ul eountry with far more food and sunshine than in England. There is also far more unhappiness. I believe this is due to the selfishness of most New Zealanders who seem to have very little sense oi" soeial or moral responsibility to' the coninmnity. English people in New Zealand are shocked by the frequency with which they meet unkindness, dishonesty, corruption and drunkenness. We know these things exist in England. too, but they flourish in New Zealand. ' '

She also says these tfyings: "The, housing situation is far worse in New Zeaiand than England. Sanitation in New Zealand houses is primitive. Children are frequently round shouldered because of the inndequacy of p>liysical training in schools. Teaching methods are niany years beliind the times. There is less freedom of speech in New Zealand. Teachers are not hllowed as much liberty to express opinions on political and religious matters as in England. Divorce is three times as frequent in New Zealand as England." She attds: "I was prepared to adapl myself to differences in material con--ditions but not to those affeeting human and moral standards. Of those who remain in New Zealand some do so only because thev are not as fortunate as I was in being able to borrow the fare home. But at least 1 have learned that England is a good place."