NEW ZEALAND CURRENCY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23886, 14 August 1939, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND CURRENCY

NOT WANTED IN THE EAST A NOVEL EXPERIMENT TOURISTS* ''EXPERIENCES (Per United Press Association? AUCKLAND, Aug. 13. Laying themselves out deliberately to test the truth of the statement that New Zealand money is worthless in other countries, Mr and Mrs F. S. Driller, of Wellington, who returned to-day from a round voyage to the East by the Maetsuycker. were successful only once in having New Zealand pound notes accepted. Before leaving Wellington, they provided themselves well with sterling travel coupons, so that their trip was in no way marred by their inability to pass New Zealand coinage. A Penny for a Pound "All excuses of politicians, and their statements that our money is good anywhere, are so much eyewash," said Mr Driller when interviewed. " Our money is absolutely dirt overseas. I tried banks, post offices, business firms and shops in various Eastern ports that we visited, and no one would accept New Zealand money. Cook's Wagonlits Travel Agency told us that they would not give us a penny for a pound note. I did it just for fun, but I think the joke was on me." Relating how he spent £ 2 in New Zealand notes on a taxi drive at Port Moresby, Mr Driller said that the person who took the money was a Catholic priest in charge of a large orphanage, who ran a taxi service to obtain funds for his mission. He was aware of the value of New Zealand money, and accepted the money with his eyes open, said Driller. "A Cow of a Country" "People resident in the East just, think New Zealanders are crazy," Mr Driller added. "It is hard to make them understand what is happening here; they candidly do not believe, and cannot realise at all what the Government has done. Everyone we met considered that New Zealand had become ' a cow of a country,' and they showed no inclination to come back with us and share our taxation. ./ „

"We have ohe consolation from our tour, however," Mr Driller concluded. "We. know we have not yet reached the taxation level of Java. For all its beauty and wonders, this country forces its citizens, who earn a respectable living salary, to live in hotels so that they may avoid taxation on furniture and servants." .