LIFE IN RABAUL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 21

LIFE IN RABAUL

HOUSEKEEPING PROBLEMS NATIVES DEMAND HIGH WAGES After living for 17 years just beyond the danger zone of an active volcano, Mrs. Alistair Gray, a visitor to Auckland by the Strathnaver yesterday, has become inured to tbo earth's trembling. "I have long wanted to visit Now Zealand, but particularly tho' thermal town of Rotorua, which, I believe, is Kabaul in disguise," said Mrs. Gray. Mrs. Gray gave an interesting glimpse of home-life in Rabaul. She said that houses there were roomy, convenient, and well-equipped. They lacked none of tho facilities found in other parts of the world and were most delightful to live in. An important factor in tho life of the European in Rabaul was tho abundance of native servants. Recently, however, they seemed to have been affected by the various socialist movements throughout tho 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 wero also provided with food and lodging. "Housekeeping in Rabaul is expensive because so many of the articles in daily use have to be imported,'' said Mrs. Gray. "Schooling is also a difficult problem for while the Government schools for European children are very good, most of the children have to be sent south to finish their education."