LIFE IN SCANDINAVIA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 201, 15 July 1936, Page 13

LIFE IN SCANDINAVIA.

A BOTANIST B IMPRESSIONS.

Interesting features of life in Scandinavia io>.l d the subject ol a talk at a meeting in Auckland recently, the speaker oemg -Miss Lucy Cranweil, or the botanist section of the Dominion Museum. Miss Cranweil told iier audience that sue had left New Zealand a little over a year ago to attend the international Botanical Conference .at Amsteidam, at winch over iOUU botanists, representing 55 countries, had been present. T hey had met in mendship, with no harrier ot race or country to create d.scord between them. All were absorbed with the one desire—that of the advancement of human knowledge. She had found wherever she travelled that she had only to i.ay tlio word “botanist” and many doors were opened and many kindnesses performed that otherwise she might not have met with. Her national pride also had been greatly touched to find how warmly New Zealanders were welcomed abroad. The Swedish people, she iound, knew a great deal about this country, and she uad been naked many times to lecture there about the Dominion. As well as Sweden, she visited Norway and Bvnni ark.

In talking of Sweden, Afiss Cranweil said that the people were intensely devoted to ski-ing, and at Upsala she found practically, every able-bodied person, from children to old men, taking part in ski races. As the racing took them well in among the trees she was greatly impressed by their prowess. The climate was so stimulating that although she was working hard she rarely felt tired. Some of the most famous botanists in the world came from Sweden and they took either pure botany or botany applied to agricultural needs. She found there an almost tireless enthusiasm for science in its various forms that she did not find in New Zealand or even in many other countries. A great deal of research work was taking place in regard to peat. By the study of peat could he told the history of forests for untold years, the climatic- changes that had taken place and the changes in the physical conformation ■ ot a country.

The Swedish people, said Aliss Cranweil, prided themselves on the fact that they had been an unconquercd people for 2000 years or more, and their independence was a marked characteristic. They, felt free to express their opinions and they even had the right to acquaint the King with their troubles. In return the King would institute inquiries and, where justified, action would bo taken to readjust matters. They were an extremely modern, practical people, born naturalists and great lovers ol nature. Their standard of living was very high. The women were brainy and advanced, and in many cases were given equal opportunities with the men in the professions. . A great deal of help was given by the Government, who would advance loans to young people who needed help with their education. There never seemed to he any hurry in paying these loans off, said Miss Cranweil. and she even found professors not far from 05 years still paying off their loans.