BACK TO THE SIMPLER LIFE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2909, 23 October 1916, Page 2

BACK TO THE SIMPLER LIFE

]i:GI[ COMMISSIONER ON SPABTAN LIVING. Tho. National Economy Exhibition at I'iince's Skating Club, Knightsbridpe, has bftcn well attended during tiio past week (says "Tho Financier," London, of July 3), and many interesting iiddresses on tho problem of our food supply havo been delivered. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner liir New Zealand, mado a point of attending on tho opening day. and in a 'speech which was frequently cheered niado r.ome pregnant remarks' on the subject. "Ono cannot." he said, "see any signs of economy in London. At .the hotels and restaurants there is Iho uamo moim and apparently the same wines available, the only differi:»co being that people hare to pay a ;;ood deal more. It is evident that if the enormous war debt which has iacctimukted, and is accumulating, is to be. liquidated, it can only be brought about by economy in expenditure. I believe that in many country homes economy is being practised. What strikes a visitor to this country is tho contrast botween the simpler form of living in the-Dominions and that followed here. In this country a man's : hospitality is, I am afraid," too frequently Measured by the suroptuousnnss of his banquet and the quality of his wincß, whereas under our moro primitive mode, of living it is the pleasure of the individual's company rather than tho abundance of his ta&le that is the main attraction. We live simpler lires. A nicely-cboked chop, a well-brewed cup of tea, with good wholesome bread and butter, form a meal whieli is considered sufficient for all ordinary requirement* in the averago home in our country. The National Economy Exhibition is promoted to demonstrate the most economic uses to which the ordinary necessaries ot life can be put, and it appeals to mo as a Scotsman and as a colonist. Ihe Scot is often mistaken! r regarded as a mean man, whereas when he is. careful it is rather the indication of thrift, than of meanness. The Scot, until within the last century, had to make a jery great deal out of very little, and be was concerned in paying lus way and saving a little even out of a most moderate income. But when n Scot accumulates wealth, : records everywhere will show that, whilst ho may bo -exceedingly careful in small tnings, no one is more generous in f contributing largely to worthy pur. poson. '

■Speaking as a colonist," ho wont on ff. r, *- v > " *• <m e "b» lias spent his life in N»w Zealand, I may, say that wo had to he economical, because articles in tho early days wero often net available. The appearance of waste is always to me most jceprehensible. I can remember the time when a sardine tm was converted into a soap dish, x kerosene tin into, a" bucket,' and if an empty cask was available it was sawn ni halt and transformed into two serviceviceable washing tubs; and so in other respects. Upon many occasions I have had io depend upon what I carried on my back for food, clothing and habitation, and the most trivii.l thing could not be wasted. /Tho extravagance of people in the Old Country, instead of increasing hospitality has a tendency to curtail it, because many who wish to entertain their friends are unable to do so by reason of the great display that i» made by the more wealthy. There can be no doubt that immediately before the war the result of the excessive- euravajjance of many classes was having a most pernicious influence upon family and consequently upon the national life, of England. There was evidently a love of ease, leading, as reports have shown, to fho curtailment of families very often for tho purpose, of personal indulgence. This war, lam sure, catno at the right iTihe. It is hrimcing us to realise that a change of methods was absolutely necessary, and ' feel this change has come as an enormous relief tq many families. Tho women have shown that they are quito prepared to i>erform any labour and mako any sacrifice that they are called upon to make, and this, I believe, will con timie,_ subject to certain necessary modifications, nftor the war is over. I holiovo that tho war will bring back n simpler and a happier form of life and rostoro those conditions which wero tho very essence of all thai was best in Ijiglish life."