FINNS FEEL COLD IN N.Z.

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28133, 23 November 1956, Page 6

FINNS FEEL COLD IN N.Z.

BUNGALOWS NOT SOLID ENOUGH

ONLY COMPLAINT MITH NEW LIFE M The Press' Special Service AUCKLAND. November 22. Finnish families brought to NewZealand to lend their traditional skill to the newsprint and paper industries at Kawerau and Kinleith are “very happy and well satisfied,” according to one of their countrymen who has just spent several days in the two districts. He is Mr Seppo Simonen, chief editor of “Yhteishyva,” the largest newspaper in Finland. Mr Simonsen passed through New Zealand on his way to the Olympic Games. Mr Simonsen was surprised to find that the 12 Finnish families at Kawerau and the eight families at Tokoroa lived in modern, well-appointed homes, had refrigerators, and, in most cases, their own cars.

“In Finland, not many workers can afford cars and ice boxes.” he said. “Also, my countrymen here like the climate and their jobs. I think they will stay in New Zealand.”

Mr Simonsen said he found that the only complaint was a general feeling that the bungalow-style New Zealand houses were not solid enough to keep out the bitter cold of winter nights. “However,” he said, “they have introduced their Finnish sauna baths to keep them warm.” What surprised Mr Simonsen most was the ease with which language barriers had been broken down by the Finnish families. “Even the housewives take lessons in English.” he said. “The whole family is learning the new tongue together.”

Mr Simonsen thinks it unlikely that the New Zealand Finns will lose their racial identity for many generations. At both Kawerau and Tokoroa he found that home-made rye bread and potatoes were still the staple diet in every Finnish home.