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7/29/1953 - Easy Living by Peter Bird Martin

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT XJORLD AFFAIRS PB Fereday Drive Easy Living Eastlea Salisbury July Nx Walter S iogers Institute Current Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Rooers Although English friends still England sceptered except visit every years They raise their children intents purposes Rhodesians While ourselves still hotel living newco stage couldn understand Now livin understand little better But understanding I third further friends It become obvious cannot indefinitely Rhodesia apparently hunnin country bright future The average ditizen would unheard luxury England Julie friends housewives across canasta table small complainin noises about living But serious They merely remembering Rhodesia floor permanent waves But remembering heard prices Great Britain living better They realize household servants average LondonCSta fractiOnor Birminghamfwhathouseholderthe Julie coming United States difference clearly friends Take Douse example It recent construction At would called story ranch It built brick covered smooth white painted stucco The windows steel casement The space under insulated winter summer It equipped modern plumbing numerous placed electricity outlets water heater The floors local hardwood whole place clean light We furnished pounds month And price includes native Nomeas below house Aaron garden Nomeas cooks washes dishes laundry irons serves meals cleans living dining Aaron cares washes automobile cleans lavatory bathroom He shining parcel carrying They local standards Nomeas receives pounds shillings month Aaron pound shillings month We supply their provisions outlined earlier letter PBM I Although accustomed living United States Julie tells Nomeas would receive about I Aaron would about month Th house would furnished somewhere between I75 month We nothing For simple reason there heating plant The Rhodesian winter which ending lasts 2months temperature night rarely freezing During wintertime temperature stays somewhere degrees Electricity water supplied total little pounds month Another marked fference between living United States surprises Julie every market She little prone complain about three markets household supplies could local supermarket United States She visit butchery greengrocer grocer sells staple items butter Milk delivered native delivery coupons urchased local dairymen cooperative Milk costs cents quart Bread delivered I cents But price foods makes flung diversity Julie S shopping Vegetables noticeably cheaper vegetable cannot purchased cents pound In United States least vegetables cents pound Julie points feminine significance these compared prices winter prices Vegetables I understand price during summer But since proportionlly cases I spare confusion further comparison subject The meats Many people warning about infected meats proved wrong All meats butcher dressed government slaughter houses governmentally inspected before being retailer If Julie butcher heard American counterpart charges chops T steak would I exageratin being those curious people boast misery endure Hamburger tknown All second which American hamburger wrapped pound packages When hamburger chuck roast which ground It sells about cents pound opposed American chuck roast price between cents pound Steak cheap Another point comparison cubed steak which costs approximately cents pound United States cents pound Filet costs luxurious pound bought cents Lie entirely cherries however Al items which imported expensive local standards Rhodesia still sadly lacking secondary industry almost manufactured items machinery beaters automobiles knitting needles slightly countries which Manufactured items foods canned sterling areas reasonably priced Thst slightly their retail price their points origin Items which imported money areas United States Italy Portugal South America France either mpossible obtain impossible because prohibitive prices Most Rhodesians automobiles which stand under punishment absorb roads American autos Yet there American Rhodesia because dollar credit And which available anyone extremely wealthy think twice rhaps three times before purchasing For example Chevrolet Cost anywhere depending condition And breaks almost after three years Rhodesia primitive roads repair costs fantastically exhorbitant because difficulty obtainin replacement parers A British manufacture reasonable durability pounds pounds Almost clothing except cheap cotton twill imported Great Britain Clothing prices therefore cempared those United States since British clothes American begin Thus necessities average Rhodesian pocket similar items United States The amenities being mostly local products A bottle costs about cents A costs cents A sandwich restaurant costs about cents A restaurant hearty curried chicken salad bread dessert about cents He scotch local bottle store about local wines which about cents bottle His gasoline expensive since imported costs about cents gallon This however offset automobile anywhere miles gallon dependin whether making using machine Family If sportsman ponies about stable three month He nothing native caddy cents afternoon lugging Most desians belong three clubs eating country In evening fellow cinema reserved seats house cents He night clubbing dinner about dollar drinks about cents It almost expensive light drive depending On Saturday afternoons watch Augby tennis soccer field hockey bowling green swimming public baths built ceeds Rhodesian national lotteries It Englishmen jungle first thing after properly introduced course If second thing construct course breed horses Salisbury every other sized community Southern Africa handsome course which meetin monthly Lotteries horse betting legal bettinE bright sunshiny Saturday afternoon lively By taking leisurely drive Rhodesian lakes tains coast scenes historical interest where spend holiday He visit Portugese East Africa continental He drive Zimbabwe ruins roads unusually smooth preparation visit Queen Mother Princess Margaret If always travel train plane larer cities slthomEh using means transportation misses beauty countryside country found small farmin villages Ee great reaches tintion because Rhodeslan country impossible haven It somewhat difficult money enjoy I found however average salesman skilled machine operator newspaper afford I outlined above There common laborers among white population All handled natives It therefore almost every white person Rhodesia afford least etive probably EVery white collar worker least native servants usually automobile From state affairs readily conclusions Most Rhodesians adopted Britishers awakened always remain today Colonial history shown again white moves country artificial lighting means transportation labor saving vices means converting fruit grain potable alcohol native absorb materialistic culture through force osmosis He always remain content masterls shirts madam overs white butcher table As Secondary industry grows native learn money machine tender bobbin tender factory To desirability obtaining position works factory daysa opposed uncertain hours domestic emuloyment seven And since native bottom Rhodesias Nyasaland become country devolops natural resources begins manufactured products instead selling other nations Food remain cheap housing situation population relaxed workfree eventually suffer severe modification It seems imperative Rhodesians realize Most completely unaware SOme beinnir realize realization pugnant fihti trying hands clock tightly wound running If Kenya situation avoided future people Rhodesia learn accept tickin clock prepare course Behind wrangles maneuvers political parties which taking shape preparation first federal election December budding realization people political party which holds keeping I political parties their platforms later letters Sincerely Peter Bird Martin Received New York