“Learned Nothing.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20540, 15 February 1935, Page 6

“Learned Nothing.”

Dear Sir,—Allow me to reply to your correspondent “ En-Zedder.” He is a returned soldier. Yes. the soldiers travelled a lot. many were in Egypt, France. London, Scotland, Ireland, but how few learnt or bothered to take notice and improve their ideas as to living conditions, housing etc? The war altered many ways and ideas of life, but my experience is that the average easy-going colonial never wanted to P ro_ gress. They came back, put down their kit bags, and next day took the gun and went awav shooting eels, and left many English brides to fend for themselves We get our ideas of progress from England, mainly. Our doctors have to go there to gain experience and see new things and bring back new ideas. The majority of other people who come also have progress in their minds. True we get wrong types mixed up with the good in any land, but if the average New Zealander had used his eyes and head a little more on his trip abroad he would not be so envious to-day, and many English girls would not feel as isolated as they do. Myself, I think, had I landed among the Maoris instead of where I did I should not have to strike the bitter chord. I still scan the dictionary for the true definition of meanness—a hut surrounded by weeds, no sanitation, a flat paddock and a cow grazWhat more did I want? Well, it is a hard job to pull down the old Union Jack and I want to tell " En-Zedder ” that there are some coons here too, bred and born here, and keeping their own country back. They don’t want to progress, but I do.—l am, etc, ENGLISH LASS,