THE FARMERS’ FRIEND

Hawera Star, Volume L, 21 February 1931, Page 12

THE FARMERS’ FRIEND

It is doubtful if there is any other class of our population whose life lias been so mucu affected by the motor vehicle as the farmer, or the “man on the land.” The farmer of to-day is m j touch with all the advantages of urban I life, without certain of the drawbacks that living in a city undoubtedly has. 1 The cultural advantages that are made possible by massed population are open to the farmer and ins family by means of motor transportation on just as easy terms as they are available for actual residents of the city. The isolation, which used to be a burdensome characteristic of farm life, has been completely lifted by the introduction of the motor vehicle. But even this contribution to the pleasure of rurai lire is not the most important factor in the benefit given to the farmer by motor transportation. on the practical, utilitarian side, the \ contribution is even greater. By means of motor transport vehicles the iiauling time for farm products lias probably been cut to a quarter of what it used to be. This means that the farmer’s labour bill to-day can be devoted principally to productive effort on the land, instead of being to a considerable part a payment for the necessary but unproductive work of carting. Where years ago a man’s whole day, and perhaps many days together, was needed for carting produce to market or railway a quarter of that time now suffices, and the rest is available for more productive work. This item of hauling carries with it, of course, the benefits that have accrued to the farmer from the multiplication of good roads, wiliicli never i would have come without the impetus given by the motor-car. Underlying all other industry is agriculture, the business that produces the vital necessities of lile, and in the growing use of motor transportation, the lifting of the burdens of hand labour from the farmer’s back, lies the best chance of making the younger generation realise that the farm offers just as satisfying a career and just as favourable opportunities as does other phases of industry. The spread of good roads is a powerful argument, to this end, and happily to-day the world is realising it.