AS OTHERS SEE US

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1929, Page 7

AS OTHERS SEE US

ENGLISH SCHOOL-TEACHER-’S IMPRESSIONS. “A COUNTRY OF THE FREE.” “New Zealand should bo a great country in the years to como because it is, to a large extent, a country of the free. The people are free from many of the things that enslave us in England and rob us of the chance often of giving complete and freo expression of ourselves. The New Zealand man and woman, youth and maiden, bnv and girl, are the most natural people I have met.” The abovo views are expressed by Mr Lister Cross, a London school teacher who is spending a year in New Zealand schools under the interchange of teachers’ scheme, and who in an article contributed to the “Daily News” give some of his first impressions of the Dominion—both in and out of school. “Tho inferiority complex, as the servile mind is often called in these days has not developed in the New Zealander,” says Mr Cross. “There is no ‘Siring’ of the ‘boss,’ no kowtowing, no fear of the man above. It is felt generally that each in his particular line is a good as the other, and just as necessary to the community ; throughout New Zealand you will find even tho v c in the highest authority cxtremcllv accessible.

“A fine spirit pervades the whole of New Zealand and everyone combines to help his fellow man to comfort and happiness during holidays and other leisure times. By the river, at the seaside, and at all the beauty spots water and electric light and excellent camping facilities are found; and oven right in the country it is common to find a slot gas-meter where for a penny a pinic party can boil their water for tea. ‘■For about £2 2s a week you can stay at an excellent hoarding-house in any town in Now Zealand. You will have not only all meals, lunch included but early morning tea, shaving water at any hour, boots cleaned, excellent shower baths and ordinary baths, all included in the one charge, and this is done so cheaply in spite of the fact that both rents and wages are higher than they arc in England. You also have, except for trunk calls unlimited free use of the telephone, you can do more by telephone here than in England, because nearly every one is on the telephone, down to the smallest shopkeeper. “New Zealand has numerous call boxes in the streets of all her towns, at one penny a call, and you obtain your number hv working a dial, independent of an exchange. “Penny postage seems to work profitably in New Zealand. “You never tip the barber, the waitress or the taxi-man; indeed, you do not tip anybody and they never look for it, hut, they render your service just as good as—indeed, in many cas-

es better than—does the tipped worker in England. “I can now understand how it is that people who have once lived in New Zealand for any length of time can never settle again in England, .daily, many cases have 1 heard of people polling up and returning home to England, only to find, after a month or two, the call of tho care-free life of New Zealand too strong for them, and once more they have left the shores for Albion for this young Land of Promise—and, I might add, of fulfilment. “A new political party came into p-'wer at the last general election, and it is said that New Zealand is to. have a loan on exceptionally easy terms of £70.000,000, so that within the* next year hundreds of new emigrants will be settled in New Zealand and assisted in a liberal manner never before known in the history of colonisation. Farming both general and sheep farming, fruit growing, and trade generally throughout New Zealand should receive a great fiillip, and unemployment should be considerably lessened both in England and New Zealand. “To the prospective emigrant wlm may read my article I would like to offer a little advice. “Do not make any audible comparisons between the new land of your adoption, and the land of your birth. Drop tile Oxford drawl if you have it. Take ovel'y opnnrtuiiity of getting to know the people. Speak well of your own land, but never to the detriment of New Zealand. “Do not expect to feel too well or completely settled in the first three months. It often takes six months to accustom your body to the new climate and perhaps longer to become used to new customs and fresh ideas. Do not offer to teach, but be willing to learn. “Remember that, at heart Now Zealanders arc either very English, very Irish, or very Scottish. “If you can sing, take as many songs with you as you can, for New Zealanders love music, and the pleasant path of melody is ever a quick way to their heart. A good song well sung is far better than all the letters of introduction.

“New Zealand is a land of detached bungalows, built of wood, with roofs of corrugated iron, painted green or red. The gardens are lovely and often very picturesque. Brick residences are few, and two-storeyed houses are to l>e found only here and there, where some wise, wealthy settler has realised his ambition, and built for himself an English two-storeyed house with COIOII- - improvements in the way of sleepponhos. “Practically • all houses—these bungalows are always called houses—are completely detached, and nowhere, ni present, is there are crowding. Yon cannot buy much of a house under £IOOO. In some roads, no houses under £2OOO may he erected, almost every house lias a garage, electric light, points for electric iron and kettle, tele, phone, and shower bath, in addition to an ordinary bath, and, of course a sleeping porch. “The standard of living and of comfort generally is much higher than it is in England; the eight-hour day is observed all over New Zealand; food is cheaper, clothing is dearer than in England, but wages are much higher. “New Zealand is a beautiful country, with about the best climate in the world; it is a fruitful land, and to the right man is truly a Land of Promise.”