The Press Junior THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1937. Modern Transport

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22103, 27 May 1937, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Press Junior THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1937. Modern Transport

Few things . alter the - way people live so much as changes in means of travel and communication. The differences between the way' people lived in Christebuxch 70 years ago and the way they live to-day are mainly the result of changes in these two things. It is interesting and valuable sometimes to consider how much difficulty our grandfathers bad to face in doing things which are made easy for us. So simple a thing as a ride in a tramcar provides an illustration. In 1867 there were no trams, and the modern bicycle had' riot been invented. Even if there had been bicycles there would have been no pleasure in using themj for the roads were crude and rough, and bullock-carts were often bogged on Riccarton road. There was only one means of getting about for most people, and that was by walking. Consequently people lived close in to the centre Q* the town, so that those s who were employed in shops, offices, and trades could get to their work. Now trams and buses run far out, and modern means-of transport have enabled the city to spread and encroach on the countryside. But the country has been affected by changes in transport in otherways as well. Before the coming of the motor-car each country township was a complete unit, supplying almost every need of Its surrounding community. Better communications have changed all that The saddler's and the blacksmith's are no longer among the most important trades of the community. All the township trades and shops have suffered, because more and more people are able to travel to the cities and the larger towns and obtain men" supplies from there. Even the work done in country homes has been affected. Formerly the household bread and butter were always made by the housewife, and almost all farms, whether sheep farms or not, kept sheep to tall for meat Now bread is delivered from the township bakfrom the butcher, and butter from the store—even on a dairy farm. All that has come about because the light motor delivery van can cover in an hour a round that would have taken a long morning in the days of the horse. When travel was slower and more difficult people spent more of their time at home, and the local community life, was toore important. Modern transport nas broken down that community life, and it is one of the agencies making people less contented with the old home life. In that direction the changes it has brought about may be regretted, because most people have lost something, ana have not yet found something worth while to replace it