Poverty Found Behind Jugoslav Facade

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32077, 27 August 1969, Page 2

Poverty Found Behind Jugoslav Facade

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, August 25. Jugoslavia’s difficulties are often attributed to there being five races, four republics, three religions, two alphabets, and one country, according to Miss Maureen Keenan, a former Tlmaru secondary school teacher. Behind the facade—a modern coastline well-developed to cater for a backward, poverty-stricken and under-developed nation. Miss Keenan, who returned recently from an overseas work and study tour, referred to Jugoslavia as a “country of contrasts." Marshal Tito, the Jugoslav President, was doing a “splendid job,” but was battling against tremendous odds, mainly ignorance and poverty, Miss Keenan said. The ignorance of the people in the most elementary aspects of living was most noticeable in areas where resettlement had been attempted, Miss Keenan said. The only

sealed roads were on the Adriatic coast.

In the large cities many wealthy businessmen flourished on private enterprise, in spite of the Communist regime. The standard of the universities was considered high by world standards, and the failure rate was extremely low. Throughout Europe she noticed young people Were eager for higher education, Miss Keenan said.

Miss Keenan also spent some time in Russia. She said life there appeared to be tough, and there was a scarcity of consumer goods. As individuals, however, Miss Keenan found the Russians hard-working, fun-loving and kind.