WHAT SHOULD WE EAT?

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 39, 21 March 1940, Page 30

WHAT SHOULD WE EAT?

To the Editor, "The Listener" Sir,-Congratulations to R. T. Kohere for her very sensible and: interesting letter which appeared in last week’s Listener. We Pakehas pride ourselves on our sense and civilisation, but both sink into significance in the face of a letter such as this and especially when it comes from one of our Maori sisters. If eels were used in our daily menu in preference to so much meat the health of our families would be much better. Personally I would sooner have a good eel than a sole or flounder, and I am looked on as a highly civilised Pakeha. So much for eels. And I quite agree with all she has to say regarding "painting the lily" and making work. Some of my friends think qur family are cranks because we never bake cakes or pastry or have a butcher. We have plenty of vegetables, fruit, cream, mussels, and other fish foods as well as edible seameal cooked, and because of this manner of living we never have to buy any medicine or pills. If by accident we have a scratch, burn, or cut, as long as it is kept clean there is. no need for

salves or pomades, and our Maori sister could tell you why: because our blood is clean. I remember a doctor’s wife telling us one time of her husband’s dislike for decorations and flavourings for food. If he had rice pudding, it had to be rice, not eggs, vanilla, and what not. I trust that R. T. Kohere’s letter will set some of our civilised. Pakehas thinking, with the result that their indigestion and similar ailments will soon — a thing of the. past. (I enjoy your articles in The ieee so much so that I post two every to my boys overseas. Good luck.) ee Yours, etc.,

SOUTHLANDER

Riverton, ‘ February 15, 1940.