Finds N.Z. Too Costly

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30426, 28 April 1964, Page 1

Finds N.Z. Too Costly

(N-Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, April 27. . “New Zealand is a beautiful country but just cannot afford to live here in the manner. to which we were accustomed in America.” This is the opinion of Mr R. W. Ranyard, an American schoolteacher who came to New Zealand from the United States last September to take up an appointment at King’s High School.

Disappointed with life here. Mr and Mrs Ranyard and their six children will leave thoir St. Clair home in a fortnight's time for the United States, where Mr Ranyard wil. resume the teaching position in Los Angeles he held f r 1’ years before last September. “We have found New Zealand to be quite delightful physically,” Mr Ranyard said

I this evening. “It is a beautL ful country, although I personally prefer a climate which is a bit warmer. “We have found the people extremely pleasant, friendly am accommodating. The main thing is. 1 was grossly misled probably unintentionally—about the cost of living here. I was given to understand that my salary would enable us to live in the manner to which we were accustomed at home."

He had been, misled, Mr Ranyard said, through an Education Department pamphlet sent to him before he took the appointment here’

“Perhaps it was out of date or a mistake.” he said. “But it said that £2OOO a year here had same purchasing power as 10.000 dollars..at home and a person earning- 10.000 dollars at home is living comfortably. I would hazard a guess that that multiplication by five should really have been by 3J. “While some items are low-'

ler in price here, they tend to be to a considerable degree i subsidised items whieh you pay for anyway as a taxpayer. “The items whieh cost more here balance out the items which cost less In spite of .opinion among New Zcalariders to the contrary, many things here cost more than in the United States aifd- the price of some things—television sets for example—is absolutely amazing” Mr Ranyard said he and his fafnily had struck a defensive attitude among New ZealandI ers. “They do not seem to have anything against Americans as individuals.'* he said, “but against America as a !country.

“They seem to think America has too many of the material things ’in life—cars, television sets. Waste disposal u ts and that sort of thing. “Maybe we are pampered Americans who cannot adjust to the rustic life here but we have had a considerable setback financially.”