BITTER CRITICISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26541, 16 August 1947, Page 8

BITTER CRITICISM

NO PARADISE MIGRANTS' OPINION GLAD TO BE LEAVING

P.A WELLINGTON, Aug. 10. About 15 people who came to New Zealand with the intention of settling here are returning in the liner Wairangi, which is to leave Wellington for London at dawn to-morrow. Members of several families, they gave various reasons for their change of plans when interviewed. While the housing shortage figured prominently in the answers given by the majority, several had other reasons for leaving. “ Why do New Zealanders overseas boost this country so? ” asked Mrs W. T. Pitcher. “Listening to what they , say, people in England are led to believe that this is a paradise. In my opinion, it is a lazy man’s paradise. The working class here, with their 4Q-hour • week, have never worked in their lives. On top of that, they are insolent, and do not know their proper places.” When several New Zealand friends with her attempted to laugh her complaints away, she said: “If I really said what I thought of this country I could go on for hours. It, is- impossible to get proper service in shops, restaurants, or hotels. The vaunted houses with no slums, besides being short, are little better than dog-boxes. I am glad I’m leaving. Much more publicity should be given in Britain to the real situation out here—prices, shortages, and things like that.” Another married woman said: “ Life here is a succession of Sundays. It’s dull. There is so little to do here compared to the entertainments available in How the young people spend their time here I cannot imagine.” At this point a male member of the group remarked: “How New Zealanders manage with this 6 o’clock closing of the public houses is beyond me.” Another man said: “The price we were asked-to pay for a house .was terrific. In Britain we had a marVel--lous home. I have seen nothing like it out here. The price we sold it for would hardly buy a small bungalow here.”