S.I. As Place To Get Away From It All

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30900, 5 November 1965, Page 9

S.I. As Place To Get Away From It All

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) CANBERRA, Nov. 3. If you want to get away from it all, the place to go is the South Island of New Zealand, writes Alan Fitzgerald in the “Canberra Times.”

International crises do not appear to exist when viewed from this part of the world, he said.

“Sukarno rates only a mention on page 21 of ‘The Press,’ Christchurch’s morning daily,” he said. “A Mayoral election and the latest catches of whitebait make the front page because international crises do not appear to exist when viewed from the South Island. “After a week on the West Coast I am prepared to believe that this attitude is the right one. Existence Of Australia

“I could hardly believe Australia existed either, but for the fact that it came into the conversation occasionally—it is our sand that is silting up

the river mouths and harbours of the West Coast, carried there by some malevolent current. It is our malee dust blown across in ’46 (1946 that is—even in New Zealand there is a statute of limitations on grudges) that is discolouring still the lower reaches of the Franz Josef glacier, which, in spite of our efforts remains one of the most picturesque sights in the world. "Accents apart, why is it that all Kiwis, like the Chinese, look alike? How much do the men’s smooth, long thin faces owe to the climate and not to their undoubted Scottish and English forebears. “Perhaps not so much alike but certainly different from the face that has evolved 1300 miles away to the west as “typically Australia.” “English” Complexion “Those New Zealand girls too, have what we regard as an “English” complexion but with an annual rainfall of 80200 inches a year maybe the South Island girl would happily swop her mackintosh and soft features for the sun blasted, Aussie bikini look? “Regrettably, if you are an astute observer in New Zealand, you will alas see a lot of those Manchester-north country-type piano legs. “And in Christchurch, with its Cathedral square, red buses, River Avon, daffodils and Scott on a plinth gazing wistfully towards the Antarctic, you could be forgiven for imagining that you are in another place altogether. “Close to the Christchurch

Airport—which Is a base far the U.S. Air Farce’s “Deep Freeze” flights to the Antarctic —is the only hotel of international standard in this city of 230,000, and it is American owned. “The tourist should make the most of it because it will be many miles before he will encounter one of similar standard.

“Up to the present hotels on the West Coast have been catering for the canny Kiwi tourist who apparently likes the draughty bathroom at the end of a shooting gallery hall, the nocturnal noises of fellow guests coming through the paper-thin walls, the hearty battering on the door heralding a stowed, half-cold cup of tea, and eating in a dining room that surely not too long ago was graced with potted palms and a lady violinist. Spirit On West Coast “Cut off from the east by the high mountains the Coasters developed a rugged, community spirit all their own which still persists today. “Throughout New Zealand there is 6 p.m. closing of hotels. “On the coast, no publican would dare shut the door before 11 p.m., and for the thirsty after that the sly-grog trade provides refreshment. “It is this nbt-so-distant pioneer past that gives the Coast its character. “The people are warmhearted and generous but not above dynamiting the front veranda of a too-officious policeman.”