“ MORE SUBDUED ”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26781, 26 May 1948, Page 5

“ MORE SUBDUED ”

VIEWS ON NEW ZEALANDERS VISITOR’S COMPARISON WITH AUSTRALIANS N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec 10 p.m. LONDON, ’May 25. The view that public confidence in their country’s future was greater in Australia than ih New Zealand was expressed by a New Zealander. Professor Raymond • Firth, professor of anthropology at the London School of Economics. Professor Firth recently returned to London after visiting Australia for discussions on the proposed new university at Canberra, and New Zealand at the conclusion of these discussions. Professor Firth said he gained the impression that the Australian industry and people were now facing the future with decided optimism. He thought the country’s vast wealth and industrial potential, the abundance of food, and the comparative insignificance of what rationing there was were largely responsible for this. “ New Zealanders, on the other hand.” said Professor Firth, emphasising that his impressions had been received in a visit of only a fortnight. “ are more subdued.” Shortages of goods, materials and labour had. he thought, made a deeper impression on the community and had produced a sense of frustration which he had not noticed in Australia. Recent power cuts, severe end widespread in the Dominion, seemed to haye caused considerable distress and impatience among the people.