HARD TIMES.

Northern Advocate, 10 March 1888, Page 3

HARD TIMES.

(From a Cot-respondent. ) It is maintained by those who have recently travelled over the country North of Auckland, that there are no haird times among the settlers. There may "be, and is probably, a very much diminished purchasing power, arising from, the low price of farming produce. That is to say, many of the things that -would be indulged in, and what are considered luxuries in dress, food, and expensive comforts, are- not now used to the same, extent as in former years, wheii the price of stock and produce generally/ was much higher than at present. But as for privations, there is no such f;bing of an injurious character. On tho contrary, it is of a beneficial kind. The farms will be better cultivated and depended upon for their produce, and. the retail store neglected. The idea of hard times in this country is nonsense, where we can grow every article we want in the way of food, every vegetable, fruit and grain can be grown in abundance, animal food, the produce of the dairy, the poultry yard, and apiary. In a climate where two crops can be grown and gathered in one season in many cases, as potatoes and maize ; where we have six or seven months -without a chill of any sort; when it would be really a great advantage to him out of doors both night and day to most healty people ; when crops can be grown in a few weeks of some descriptions ; and when land can be acquired easily from the Government by simply locating upon, and from private individuals at almost nothing. The man or family that suffers long from hard times in the North must be simply good for nothing people, if they have their Tiealth ; and in many instances, {hough settlers come to the North in delicate health, they very soon become robust and enjoy many years of life that otherwise they had no chance of doing. Yet it is said the country is not good enough for crofters to live in, with the heavy taxation, &c. This is a pure delusion. The working man is not taxed except he likes to purchase dutiable articles, such as spirits, beer, tobacco, &c, not until he reaches the exemptive limit of £500 for property tax. Tobncco he can grow in his ovra garden, and had better do without the whiskey and beer. The only other article that carries a light duty is sugar (which is sold for 3d per lb. for No. 1 Coys.) that is required in a household. The healthiest and best families of our colonists do not use tea or coffee. The French and German colonists do not use tea at all as a rule and rarely, coffee. They are able in a year or two to make a delicious wine from grapes or peaches and other fruits, yet this country is not good enough for crofters. One would think that to come to this land of sunshine, peace, and happiness, where plenty of good wholesome food is to be had (and there is room for all), when there is no middle man, would be a blessed change, from the land of mist and privations for the working classes, to which the crofters belong.