LIFE IN RABAUL

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1938, Page 5

LIFE IN RABAUL

HOUSEKEEPING PROBLEMS. After living for 17 years just beyond the danger zone of an active volcano, Mrs. Alistair Gray, a visitor to Auckland by the Strathnaver recently, has become inured to the earth’; trembling. “I have long wanted to visit New Zealand, but particularly the thermal town of Rotorua, which, I believe, is Rabaul in disguise,” said Mrs. Gray. Mrs. Gray gave an interesting glimpse of home-life in Rabaul. She said that housese there were roomy, convenient, and well-equipped. They lacked none of the facilities found in other parts of the world and were most delightful to live in. • An important factor in the life of the European in Rabaul was the abundance of native servants. Recently, however, they seemed to have been affected by the various socialist movements throughout the world and were now demanding higher wages and were not so easy to obtain. Wages for a laundry boy. house boy and cook, were 8s and 10s a month each. They were also provided with food and lodging. “Housekeeping in Rabaul is expensive because so many oi the arI ticles in daily use have to be importi ed,” said Mrs. Gray. “Schooling ;s I also a difficult problem for while the i Government schools for European I children are very good, most of the ■ children have to be sent out to finish their education,”