BRITISH FARMING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20228, 12 April 1929, Page 14

BRITISH FARMING.

Sir,—Mr. E. Earle Vaile says the small New Zealand farmer works twice as hard as the English farmer, and he's quite right. He does. That proves that New Zealand is no paradise for the small farmer. Now, why does he work so hard ? Because he is forced to do, and he is forced to do so because, through lack of intelligence, ho has mortgaged his land so much that hp is at his wits' end to know how to get enough out of it to pay his interest. Now, who is the most sensible, the English farmer who takes life easily and grumbles, or the New Zealand one who' works from daylight to dark and also grumbles ? Also, which is the best country to farm in ? Mr. Vaile savs that in England there is the landlord, the farmer, his foreman, and his workmen, four different forces getting their living out of the land. In New Zealand there is the mortgagee, the farmer, and in some cases there are a few workmen employed. But in New Zealand employing much labour on the farm is out of the question, as most of what comes off the land goes to pay the on the, farm. Therefore there is nothing left to pay labour. In any case, there aro only three parties to get their living out of the land in New Zealand, against four in England. Mr. Vaile should not make comparisons of the ways of farming in the two countries, because conditions are so different, and if he (Mr. Vaile) had a few years' experience of farming in England ho would know why the English farmer does certain things that to him (Mr. Vailed seem so entirely wrong. Also, when Mr. Vaile trvs to boost New Zealand again I would advise him not to proclaim it. on the house tops that it is the land where the farmer works twice as hard as he docs in England and is forced to do if, or go under. Or r> English Farmer.