American Woman’s Views On New Zealand

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 November 1950, Page 7

American Woman’s Views On New Zealand

An American woman, Mrs Waltei A. Neitch, who with her husband, is on a six months tour of New Zealand and Australia, in commenting on the many lovely gardens she hau seen in this country and the enthusiasm dis* played by gardeners, said she could not understand why there are not more garden clubs formed in New Zealand. She considers they would assist an encourage amateur gardeners. Journeying in their own car, which they brougnt with them, from Chicago, Mr and Mrs Neitch have found both the roads and hotel services excellent, despite warnings of what to expect from New Zealanders met In the States.

“The trouble with New Zealanders is that they have an inferiority complex about their own country and an exalted opinion about the way Americans live,” said Mrs Neitch. “In my opinion you are just as well off or better off than we are. prices just about average out.’’ She thinks Australian and New Zealand women on the whole are good looking and well-dressed compared with American standards. “We are really very much the same people and live similar lives,” she said. “We even spoke the same language once we understood that 'scones’ are biscuits’ and 'biscuits’ are ‘crackers. ”

“Packaging of meat grows more attractive every year at home,” she said. “Everything is wrapped in transparent paper and as far as possible is untouched by human hand. Chickens, packaged ready for sale ‘looked a picture.’ They could be bought whole for roasting or broiling, or the legs, just as one wished. Half a turkey could be purchased for a small family dinner. ’ Most women in Chicago were doing their own housework just now as costs for domestic labour were high—about one dollar an hour.