Those were the days

Saturday’s article on Stuff by Virginia Fallon, asking the question of ‘‘Saveloys or Salmon’’ for Christmas, is indicative of the paradigm shift New Zealand has undergone since my arrival on these shores from Canada in 1971.

It was culture shock for me coming from a country where huge turkeys were rustled up cheaply and made stunning statements upon many a table.

That said, after a year or so here I had figured it all out. I had made a trade-off.

I came to understand that here in New Zealand it was ‘‘things you wanted were expensive but things you needed were affordable’’.

In 1976, my New Zealand bride and I paid three full months in wages for a Thorn Precision 20-inch colour TV which was assembled here in THIS country within a locally made cabinet (providing job security) using imported components.

A TV that now can be bought for a couple of days’ wages but is now made using slave labour in China. Conversely , in 1976, we could purchase a whole side of hogget from the Belfast Meat Works shop – cut to our requirements – for $5.

Our house rent was $10. Petrol was 45 cents per imperial gallon – 9 cents a litre. All from a wage of $55 a week.

New Zealand had efficient free healthcare systems, educational facilities, and the Housing Corporation interest rate was 3 per cent for 30-year fixed mortgages.

Wanted a new car? You had to save overseas funds in special accounts and pay the full cash price or buy secondhand cars like everyone else.

No-one lived on the streets because few lived beyond their means.

Well, ‘‘fast-forward’’ – you wanted the ‘‘dog-eat-dog’’ American ‘‘dream’’? Well, here it is and it is ugly.

I preferred the freedom from fear, the saveloys, the 10-cent mince pies and the 6-cent double scoop hokey pokey ice creams any day.

To Virginia I say ‘‘be careful what you wish for’’ because a better society is up to us all – notwithstanding the Furkey.

G G Vince MacDonald, Middleton