Finland

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 3, 31 July 1931, Page 29

Finland

t Yrignorance concerning Finland was pleasantly enlightened by Dr. Scholefield in his "International Talk" on Wednesday evening last. The doctor makes no pretence to oratory, but presents a mass of facts in plain, straightforward style, conveying a quite adequate mental picture of the country described. The mental conception the majority of us probably have of European countries is that they are highly developed, with but little waste space or territory ‘in a state of Nature. It was, therefore, quite surprising to learn that ap¢proximately only one-tenth of the area in Finland has been "civilised"; that her immense forests are still relatively untouched, although providing timber sufficient to send 15,000 rafts annually down (Concluded on page 30.)

Voice of Michael

(Continued from page 29.) to timber and pulp mills. The assurance was given us that in the agricultural sense little fear need be entertained of Finnish competition. True, she has some 2,000,000 dairy cows, and exported before the war up to 12,000 tons of butter. In numerical strength her dairy herds exceed those of New Zealand by a substantial total, but it is improbable that her total manufacture any way approaches that of this Dominion, owing to the relatively superior advantages ob-

taining in New Zealand for butter-fat production. The severe winters, and the necessity for housing occasioned thereby, offer a definite handicap to pasture production. The Finns have ever been lovers of freedom. Even when under Russian domination they were by no means servile, but resisted the imposition of numerous Russian dictates, with the result that many leading politicians and judges were: exiled to Siberia. Russian upheaval offered Finland the opportunity for establishing a republic, and this they promptly seized. To-day Finland is the home of a well-developed, independent, self-reliant, progressive and aggressive people. They are keen commercially, broad-minded politically, progressive in the legislative field, and strongly wedded to sports and athletics, Who has not heard of Nurmi, the great distance runner? We are assured that he is but one of a score of athletes of almost equal class. The rigorous conditions under which Finnish life has attained its standard were adequately indicated and should make New Zealanders more than ever appreciative of the wonderfully fruitful and healthy climate in which they are placed.