PROSPERITY AND EQUALITY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21329, 23 November 1934, Page 22

PROSPERITY AND EQUALITY

IMPRESSION OF NEW ZEALAND "One is always impressed on coming tack to New Zealand with the appearance of fairly general prosperity, and especially with the widespread equality of wealth." With these words, Dr. J. B. Condliffe, of the economic intelligence service of the League of Nations, and formerly of Canterbury College, described his feelings on his return to Christchurch yesterday. He said that Christchurch in particular gave him that impression, with its great number of small suburban homes and well-kept gardens. . "There arc, of course, evidences or economic troubles," he added. "I have seen unemployment relief works here and there, and farmers have told me that the price of butter is very low, but it seems to me that the New Zealand standard of living is higher than in most other countries. Where Ihe standards are comparable, such as in. the United States, the depression has been very severe. In America it, hit a great number of individuals who have no protection against adversity. The old people have no pensions provided for them, and the unemployed have no insurance to fall back on." >T The social legislation in New Zealand and Great Britain had, said Dr. Condliffe, served a good purpose during the difficult years, and a most important feature of the "New Deal" in the United States consisted of devising some system like that New Zealand had enjoyed for 40 years. Many ■wealthy American people had lost the whole o£ their fortunes, and were now dependent in a humiliating way on charity. It was refreshing to come back to New Zealand, where conditions were much less severe, and where the bulk of the population were in reasonably good circumstances.