PROGRESSIVE SWEDEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 November 1940, Page 7

PROGRESSIVE SWEDEN

MOST=ELECTRICALLY=MINDED COUNTRY IN WORLD HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING. ROTARY CLUB ADDRESS. “Sweden is the most electricallyminded country in the world, with perhaps Switzerland a close second," stated Mr C. T. Taylor. of Palmerston North, in an address to members of the Masterton Rotary Club yesterday afternoon. Mr Taylor returned to New Zealand from Sweden, where he was an employee of the largest electrical combine in Northern Europe, shortly after the collapse of France. In giving a brief outline of Sweden’s geographical features Mr Taylor pointed out that it was a country of great length and 60 per cent was covered with forest. Ten per cent of the country consisted of rivers and lakes, which owing to easy transport facilities made for the growth of the paper industry. In the far north the country was still a wilderness but lower down was inhabited by the Lapps whose whole existence was contained in the word “reindeer." The middle north was sparsely populated but it was not until the southern portion had been reached that the tourist came to the densely populated area, of which. Stockholm was the centre. "The Swedish people are pure Nordic and on the average are 2in taller than the English. Apart from a Flemmish. infiltration in one of the provinces in the south they had not intermingled with other people to any great extent.” said Mr Taylor. The Swede was a born engineer and all possessed a leaning’ towards mechanics. Electric power was generated from the great waterfalls and rivers and the power which drove the trams in Stockholm was transmitted from the Arctic Circle. There were only 6,000,000 people in Sweden and yet there were 20 industrial groups each with a capital of £5,000.000 sterling, all of which was held by Swedes. In New Zealand only the Government would be able to hold such capital. Mr Taylor stated that the Electrolux, Primus lamps, etc., were all Swedish inventions. “ ’Ah. it. is immoral' was the reply I received from a Swedish engineer when I told him that a 40-hour week was worked in New Zealand industry,” stated Mr Taylor. "Whether his English was bad or not. he did not think it right, as they work a 50-hour week.” In the summer the people in Stockholm left their flats in the city and lived on the many islands in the archipelago. It was a fine sight to see thousands of cream motor boats scudding over Stockholm harbour as the men went to work first thing in the morning. In the Stockholm motor boat club there were over 30.000 boats. In. the winter, it was light from 10 a.m. to 3 p.rn., and with a frost of 45 degrees most of the people stayed over theilflres at night and studied. "The standard of living in Sweden is unquestionably the highest in Europe." said Mr Taylor. A working man’s flat was equal to the best in Wellington. A fully furnished flat with a built in refrigerator and all electrical appliances cost 30s a week. The Swedes had organised their social life to a high degree and it was easily the cheapest country in the world to live

"Although the Swedes are a very placid nation a radical change came over them when Russia declared war on Finland.” stated Mr Taylor. Restrictions were placed on foreigners and the Swedes were so disgusted with the Russian aggression that they turned out the Communists. Sweden's part in the war had never been fully revealed. To the foreigner in Sweden the war was clearly a war between Sweden and Russia. The whole population helped Finland. Owing to a fear of German aggression from one side and an attack by Russia on the other Sweden was placed in a delicate situation after Norway had gone under. Thousands of Swedes joined the Finnish army and financial assistance by means of long term deferred credits was given by the banks. The factories worked 24 hours a day turning out material for the Finns. Mr Taylor commented on the defences of Sweden which he considered cf the best.