NEW ZEALANDERS’ FORTUNATE PEOPLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 4599, 21 January 1936, Page 4

NEW ZEALANDERS’ FORTUNATE PEOPLE.

IMPRESSIONS OF A GERMAN,

■“lf I were in New Zealand without any money, I think I would find living quite easy. If I could not fish or hunt, I would go to anyone at all and ask for a cup of tea — and I would he all right for a week,” said Mr A. Leopold, a German business man, who is visiting Christchurch. Mr Leopold has been in New Zealand for nearly two years, but only now considers himself- qualified to discuss conditions here.

Mr Leopold said he had been amazed to see crowds of young people in New Zealand going into shops for ice creams, to the pictures, and to supper afterwards. “That would be quite impossible in Europe,” he added. “There we are quite satisfied if we can earn enough for one decent meal in a day and one other small meal.

“Some months ago there was a strike in Wellington because the men thought they did not have enough at £4 8/- a week. I wondered at that, because in Germany a professional man, a doctor, or a lawyer, works for that amount with pleasure. Our standard of life is much lower. New Zealanders are very well off, and they don’t know it. They growl all the time and without any reason.” Mr Leopold’s only comment on New Zealand food was that there was too much of it. “I find that I have to take seven meals a day,” he said. “Otherwise I would insult the hotel proprietors. I have a cup of tea in the morning, and then a big breakfast; then I go to see a business man, and he says to me, 'Come in, Mr Leopold, and have a cud of tea.’ Then there is luncheon, and afternoon tea, then a very rich dinner and then supper. “WJhen I take the average of knowledge among all New Zealand people I find dhat there is a very high standard. Taste out here is in many ways more cultivated than on the (Continent. I have been astonished to find the knowledge of a New Zealand school boy of the geographical positions of countries. If a New Zealander came to Germany and spoke German as I speak English, with a wrong accent, the people would not have much time for him. But in New Zealand they allow you time to express yourself. “I have a feeling that nature colours the soul of the people of New Zealand, and that is why they are so nice to strangers,” said Mr Leopold. “I wish that I could show to my countrymen New Zealand as it is. You are so well off because nature here is so wonderful and so rich. The mountains are more beautiful than anywhere in the world. It is not necessary to go to Mount. Cook. It is not necessary to look for nature; —nature comes to you.” Mr Leopold added that he was glad to be 12,000 miles away from European troubles. He said he intended to write a book about New Zealand. He considered that more should be done to let people in Europe know of its natural beauties. Rotorua, he said, disappointed him. He considered that the natural beauty of much of the district had been spoiled by too much care for the’ convenience of tourists, and that the Dominion’s scenery should be left without, for example, such conveniences as seats placed beside geysers in the thermal regions.