17 Prices for fresh vegetables were relatively high: Tomatoes 2/6 to 3/- a pound, beans 6d a pound, cucumbers 1/- or more each, etc. Manufactured goods were very ex- pensive indeed, and for the most part very shoddy looking. Prices for clothing, footwear, electrical appliances and hardware were far above those prevailing in the States and most of the goods looked like five and dime stuff or old stock that had been bought at clearance sales in bigger, more up-to-date cities. The almost 100% Anglo-Saxon town folk dress soberly. I found myself looking for eyes other than grey, and atypical noses. The typical New Zealand nose is slightly tilted and thickened at the tip, and not a little aggressive. Saw few people of either pure or mixed Maori b blood. The only other non-whites were Chinese green grocers. The harbor has much wharf space but was crowded with shipping. Many big ships from Britain and some from the U.S. Congestion due in part to the holidays. Work on the wharves stopped at noon on the 24th; resumed today, will go on tomorrow, then stop until January 5th. This is all general holiday time. The stock exchange and the legal offices stay closed from Christmas Eve to January 13th. Part of the harbor congestion is due to a rush of overseas ships with goods which must be within the 3-mile limit by January 31. All imports are on government permit. The 1947 permits expire the day after tomorrow. New Zealand economy is rigidly controlled by the socialist government. Apparently controls are being overdone. There is a feeling that the government may be defeated at next elections, stay out for one term, then return with modified ideas. Have heard considerable talk on politics by New Zealanders. The con- sensus seems to be that if the Conservatives are returned to power, after being out for many years, they will go too far in trying to undo the work of the Labor Party and be promptly thrown out again. Measures like socialized medicine, fiercely opposed by the conservatives, have the approval of the people. It is said too, that the doctors are doing more business than ever before. Government pays all the fees 7/6 for an ordinary call at a doctor's office and the women especially flock in for advice. I thought in my innocence that I would pick up a bottle of whiskey to take back to the ship - the Marine Phoenix is dry except for "Lucky Lager" which one carries from the novelty shop. Nothing doing. Went into the bottle department of several hotels. They were selling bottled beer, wines, and mixed cocktails. No liquor of any kind, at least on the shelves or for sale to strangers. Was told in one place that they had not sold "spirits" for eight years. Elsewhere I heard that liquor can be had black market for very high prices. Tuesday Dec. 30: Heading west over the Tasman Sea for Sydney on the last leg of the voyage. Weather cool. Slept under two blankets last night. Long ocean swell is upsetting to some of our new passengers. We have carried a small group of acrobats and other professional show people from San Francisco. At Auckland we picked up a Russian ballet company numbering 75 all told. There is not a Russian name in the ballet company - all British-Australian.