THIS FREEDOM

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 10

THIS FREEDOM

Some Reflections On Life in “God’s Own Country” (By jEBEMIAn.) As one who has been lured to settle in this country by specious propaganda and a hint that the people were gods. I would like to give you my impressions. As I have now lived several years in a rural district peopled by dairy farmers surrounding a post office at varying distances up to live miles, I find the life of the community and its activities very interesting. The principal occupation consists in visiting the Post Office in answer to threatening letters from innumerable Government departments and the worry attendant on these visits. Subsidiary occupations such as farming, gardening, social occasions, games and holidays—especially holidays—occupy little of the mental life of the people. My idea in coming here was to settle down with my car and radio and gun, and potter about on a small farm as a paying hobby. I had visions of freedom, ease and communion with my hobby and my neighbours. What is my condition?

Each quarter I visit the Post. Office to pay two different levies for the unemployed. I again visit the Post Office because I have not brought my previous receipts. On the second or third visit I am informed that I am fined 10 per cent, for being late in payment. Say 12 visits per annum (mileage 70 miles). Twice a year I pay my radio license; say four visits (mileage 24 miles). I furnish an income tax return after several threatening letters, and am told s'ome months later that as I have not furnished a “return” I will be assessed at three or four times the proper amount. This is obviously a "try on,” so I hastily furnish another return, send it in and wait in anxious suspense, until I get a notice that I must pay 10 per cent, fine for late payment. I receive "rabbit destruction” notices which must be observed and an elaborate ritual carried out (at my expense) to destroy the three rabbits. Ido this under further threats. I have scarcely returned home from the Post Office when I find the local policeman threatening my wife because she cannot find ray gun license. I hastily produce it because I know he wants to collect 2/6 from me for a fresh copy. I then have the bee inspector inspecting my two hives and forcing me (with threats) to take out a license. My six fruit trees also attract attention from the Department of Agriculture, with more threats. About this time I am required to register my car and its insurance. This involves two visits to the Post Office, as I have not memorised my engine number and the P.O. clerk will not tell it to me, though he has my previous registration of the same car. I must visit a town forty miles away to renew my driver’s license and pay for the privilege. As last year I did not screw my new license plates into place for a week but left them in the car, the inevitable happened, and I was “pinched” while taking a friend to the station in an emergency. I had to attend court. 20 miles away and was fined one pound. I have the usual £2O tier annum to pay the dentist for two days’ work and the usual £5O to pay the doctor for a slight operation. Other expenses aro as usual, or more so. What I mean is that in New’ Zealand one requires a secretary, a lawyer, and ■an accountant to manage his £250 a year, and leave him a little leisure for his own affaire. The expense of doing this will be about £250 a year; but it’s well worth while. In the meantime the whole district is seething with small church organisations which comb us for the last halfpenny which the Government and the other profiteers have missed. What I really mean is: Why can’t we have a system of government w’hich permits, s'a.v, a few days in each year to be free from interference and worry?

The health of the community has been badly shattered by the worry attendant on the constant threats and demands of the Government departments. The work of the people cannot be (lone efficiently when their thoughts are constantly on when the next blow will ■fall on their pockets. Is it “God’s Own Country” they call this?