Visitor Found Poverty In Spain “Appalling”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30074, 7 March 1963, Page 2

Visitor Found Poverty In Spain “Appalling”

In the Spanish Cathedral of Macarena, the patron saint of all matadors, dressed in a beautiful parchment gown embroidered in gold, “weeps for departed matadors.” Two tears cm the statue’s cheeks are of real diamonds. Not far away there are, by way of contrast, beggars in the streets.

"The poverty in Spain is appalling. You see blind people, many old women and others who just sit outside the markets and beg,” says Mrs Lilian Good, formerly of Greymouth, who recently returned from a visit to Spain. "I have returned to New Zealand firmly convinced we live in a paradise.”

Mrs Good spent some months st CampeUo, a tiny fishing village on the Costa Blanca, near the lovely city of Alicante. The Cam Campello was formerly run by John Williams, of Auckland, and now by Barrie Aslett and his wife, Jane, who comes from Lower Hutt, she said. In Campello, Mrs Good said, she could buy most things and could get her hair washed and set for about Is 9d. "Children of Spanish clients at the salon would stand and watch from the doorway when told the ‘senore’ came from 'Neuva Zealanda.’ They had never heard of the place. Very few of the people there •poke English.” Along the coast of Spain near San Juan, huge blocks of flats were being built by American, German and English enterprise, she said. From October, the flats were available at a reasonable rental, varying from £lO to £2O a month according to the situation. Board was available at £5 a week. Meat of poor quality and

surrounded by flies did not suggest appetising dishes, she said. Fish was brought round in small hand-carts and was very good and very cheep. “Coal is also brought round in little hand-carts and women lane up with little bags to buy small quantities,” she said. Mrs Good found she could buy cigarettes for about Is 3d for 20—black cigarettes from the Canaries for about lOd for 20—and cigars from 6d each.

Both red and white wine were very cheep. Many little houses along the coast had notices up to say they sold it for about 2d a glass. Cave-dwellers “Little children living in caves come to these houses to buy half a bottle of wine for their parents,” she said. “To see people living in caves seemed fantastic. There would be a small door in a hillside and sometimes a tiny white curl of smoke. coming from a hole in the top of the cave to indicate a home. “In Granada some 5000

people live in caves round Sacromonte, which can be seen, from El Alhambra, a former sultan’s palace. From here the visitor can see the colourful Moorish and gipsy quarters where eaves have painted interiors and many copper ornaments hanging from the walls.”

Mrs Good was in Seville while scenes were being shot of the film “Lawrence of Arabia,” with Peter O'Toole in the leading role.

An innovation this year would be a public-speaking course, she said. Starting in early April it would consist of 10 weekly meetings. “It will be something rather different,” she said. “We do not intend to produce any orators. It will be within the range of everyone and will be especially designed to help women express themselves clearly and confidently.”

A yoga class would be included in the programme for the first time this year, said Mrs Beddie. Mrs G. Guy would be the instructor, and the class would meet for the first time next week.

All adults with a desire to paint would be welcome at the adult art class. Men and women of all ages could take part. Under the instruction of Mr M. Eaton, the class met each week.

As part of the existing badminton club, a beginners* class had been arranged this year, said Mrs Beddie. “Again it will be a mixed class, and players can graduate to the badminton club once they have become proficient.”

A charm course had been included and would commence shortly. Every aspect of good grooming would be covered, including make up end deportment, said Mrs Beddie.