The Ladies Differ

TWO British Solomon Islands housewives who passed through Australia recently gave news paper reporters differing views on housekeeping difficulties in the Colony. But the fact that one lady was returning to the colony, and the other was leaving may have had something to do with this.

Mrs. P. N. Dalton, wife of the BSI Attorney-General, arrived in Sydney after 15 months’ holiday in England. She said that practically all food consumed by Europeans in the Solomons had to be imported— and at “ghastly” prices. They in tended to start a garden when they returned, but their house was built on a hill and the soil was very shallow. There was no shortage of native servants, she said, but few had had any training and they did not like to work.

With the Malaita now providing a constant supply of fresh meat and vegetables, housekeeping in the Solomons has become much easier, said Mrs. P. Hughes, w T ife of a Honiara administrative officer, in Perth recently. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes and their two sons left Honiara in mid-October.

Conditions had improved enorm ously lately, and life in the islands

was pleasant and agreeable, Mrs.

Hughes said. There were about 200 Europeans in Honiara and the social life was active. A new golf course had just been opened, and there were tennis courts and a club. It was a paradise for children, as they could swim all year round, she said.

Shopping was easy because tl Chinese had established a big shoj ping centre, with all types of goo< which came mostly from Hongkon Mrs. Hughes said they were able grow some of their own vegetable particularly beans, tomatoes, pum] kin and marrow.