Læknaneminn - 01.06.1965, Side 31

LÆKNANEMINN
S1
R. J. M. Crawford, stud. med.:
Icelandic Interlude
FIRST: there is no ice in Ice-
land. Or very little, anyway. The
man who named it saw one valley
in winter, when it is cold by British
standards. The name of Iceland is
as relevant as that of Greenland!
Iceland is essentially a small
eountry, and this influences the
size of its medical services. The
population is 186.000; about a
third of Edinburgh; and 80,000
of these live in the capital, Reykja-
vik. The next largest town is Ak-
ureyri (rhymes with Tipperary),
with 9,000 inhabitants. Most Ice-
landers live in small farms scat-
tered about the land. The farm-
houses are surrounded by lush
green fields where hay is grown
frantically all summer to feed the
sheep and cattle during the long
winter. The sheep live in the moun-
tains during the summer, as in
Scotland. I think Icelandic farms
represent the picture I have of
Scotland about 150 years ago, be-
fore the land clearances, when
every glen contained numerous
crofts. Icelandic farms are equip-
ped with modern machinery, how-
ever, and are quite rich. There is
the inevitable drift of younger
people into the towns, and the
farms are gradually combining as
the old folk die.
The attraction of the towns is
strong, because of the opportuni-
ties of earning good money. Fish-
ing is the major industry, and it
amounts to 90% of the country’s
exports. The trawlermen are
guaranteed a minimum wage by
the Government, as in Britain, but
it is much higher. When the catch
is good they get almost astronomi-
cal wages; it is possible to get
about £300 for a week’s work.
There is a shortage of labour, and
as a consequence the unions are
very strong; strikes are frequent
and crippling. The standard of liv-
ing is very high, as is the cost.
(The exchange rate is appalling).
There are no old buildings in
any town, and the houses of even
ordinary labourers are luxurious
by our standards. Every house has
central heating and double glazing:
you should hear Icelanders
grumble about how cold British
houses are in comparison with
their own! Most Icelandic houses
are heated with water from the
many hot springs: a reminder of
the volcanic nature of the land.
The prosperity of Iceland flows
into the country from the sea:
fishing represents the entire
wealth. It pays for the new houses,
the expensive cars, even for the
doctor’s salaries, and without it
Iceland would be poor indeed, be-
cause there are no other raw
materials. This is why Iceland
fights so hard for the 12 mile
limit, regardless of whether they
are legally or morally right to do
so. I found it strange to see wealth,