N.Z. Has Its Problems – And Advantages

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30038, 24 January 1963, Page 2

N.Z. Has Its Problems - And Advantages

Although enjoyable, Christmas Day in mid-summer was so different and somehow I could not capture the same Christmas atmosphere. As swimming gear featured prominently among our children’s presents, the temperature of 85 degrees on Christmas Day was most suited to a day spent at the beach. By the accents we heard we surmised that about half the people there were from the British Isles; the Kiwis were probably enjoying family parties at home. Of course, one’s family is greatly missed at Christmas.

However, memories of everyone gathered together around a blazing fire with bitter cold weather outside—if not snow’ —sometimes play false. Very often the weather is dull and muggy and a roaring fire overpowering—and one is apt to forget how often illness can spoil a family gathering at that time of the year, particularly if there are children. The result can be one of anti-climax and very disappointing after all the preparations.

Nevertheless, tor the pereca who tirvdwptonrti htisneelf tn another damarte and country, life nuM always hold a certain amount of "Looking back ever one’s shoulder," and moments when a glimpse of old faces and places would be worth an awful lot of space and aunehine. Particularly I think ffttis must be true for the modern immigrant, who in the main,

is not the person who has failed to do well in the motherland and has left depressed condiittons. It is easier to look back wrh equanimity when the new life is so much better; n~'t so easy when the advantages are more basic like fewer people, more apace and sundhine. But a year away from home is not so very long and maybe I am wrong, Leisurely For Men One thing I am clear about Is that the “mare leisurely tempo to Me” is strictly for the men! I find my days more rushed. I think the longer school hours in England have a k* to do writh this. Ait home the children did not arrive back from school until 4.15 p.m. which seemed to make the day so much longer. Also they had their main meal ait school. The meals coat Is each and art our children’s school they were cooked on the premise* in a well-equipped kitchen. Ait some schools the meals are brought by heated vans. I wac then left with only high tea to prepare when the children returned. Personally, in spite of the extra work, I prefer to cook my children's matin meal. I do art least know wtaart they have bad, as occemonally I believe the school meals left something to be deemed, if the children’s names for them were any guide. The New Zealand habit of calling dinner art night "tee,*’ as well as there being “after, noon tee,** muet have led to

some amuamg situations where English people were the guests. Art first we were never quite sure to which meal we were being invited. An invitation to “come to tea” in England usually means to arrive about 4 o’clock for a meal later comsisiing of perhaps a salad followed by fruit, jelly and cake “Morning tea” was an innovation to me. In England one had a mid-moming coffee break with, perhaps, a biscuit—but certainly not a full-scale meal. I have still not worked out how New Zealanders remain so comparatively slim!

We were told we would find Christchurch a most English city and perhaps it is the most English of New Zealand cities. Willow and horse-chestnut trees and the stone-built churches help create the illusion. Shops with overhead porches, wide roads and wooden houses soon dispel it. Why should it be otherwise? Christchurch has enough character and attraction in its own right to need to borrow false glamour. Living in our suburb I always had the feeling of the pulse of London with its teeming life, theatres, museums, parks and historical

buildings beating not far away. In Christchurch I feel more as if X am in an oasis surrounded, not by desert, but by a sea of green farmland. Similarly, the proximity of Europe is always apparent in England while one does feel very isolated in New Zealand, although this feeling is rather pleasant during any world crisis. I often wonder why there are so few typical New Zealand accents on the radio. Rarely, unless I make a point of checking first, can I tell whether it is a recorded 8.8. C. programme I am listening to, or one straight from the NZB.C Some Snobbery At the risk of bringing down wraith on my head I have not found New Zealanders quite so free from class and colour consciousness as they would like it believed. Certain districts and schools seem to have influence. Although this is nothing like the snobbery that exists in some parts of England it is no less depressing. New Zealanders should surely be amongst the happiest people on earth. They have a beautiful country with very few extremes of want or affluence, abundant natural playgrounds and the climate in which to enjoy them, and few worries concerning their children’s educational opportunities. Also the shadow of the H-bomb falls rather less darkly here than in other parts of the world—the atmosphere here during the Cuban crisis was not to be compared with that of the earlier Berlin crisis in London. Perhaps their good fortune makes them a little complacent and too easy-going at times, which can be irritating. But they are a warmhearted and generous people and we are glad we came. I hope New Zealanders can put up with us, too. (Concluded)

Thia is the fourth and final article on impressions of life in New Zealand by DOREEN MANSBRIDGK, an English journalist who migrated to New Zealand with her husband and young family a year ago.