How many miles to Utopia ?

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33095, 9 December 1972, Page 14

How many miles to Utopia ?

(By WHIM WHAM) “We don’t live in Utopia and we are not Utopians . . .’’—Mr T. E. Skinner, to the Wellington Rotary Club. Utopia . . . Book published by Sir Thomas More in 1516 describing imaginary island with perfect social & political system; ideally perfect place or state of things. (= nowhere, from Greek ‘Ou’ NOT .+. ’topos PLACE).—Concise Oxford Dictionary. Did you ever visit Utopia, Tom?. I know the Country well. There’s many an old Utopian Tale That I could tell. I was born and educated There, — That’s Years ago, now, — I often think I’d like to go back, But I don’t somehow. The last Time I went Overseas I dropped in, briefly. w The Place was crawling with Kiwi Trippers, — Educationists, chiefly. Gone was the old Utopian Charm That I’d known before, — I hate to think what I paid for my Room At the THOMAS MORE. And every one of the Natives owned Three Japanese Cars; And the Babies all smoked Pot, as once Men puffed Cigars. And all the Utopian Women Had been liberated twice, •— Once from Men and once from each Other. By a clever Device: Sex, you see, was audio-visual (Son et Lumiere) — A non-biodegradable Honeymoon For the happy Pair. And the Farms that should have smiled, now leered With conscious Productivity, — And a sewered Beach at the Foot of each Utopian declivity. Did you ever visit Utopia, Tom? I hope You never will. I’m glad it’s a Dream you do not dream, — Who’s dreaming still?