THE DRIFT TO THE TOWN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 14

THE DRIFT TO THE TOWN.

Sir, —Since it is generally recognised that, Ibo majority of the youth of to-day aro disinclined to farming pursuits, much preferring iho glamour, the social amenities, and last, but not least, tho higher wages and better working conditions of the cities, wo must stagnato as an agricultural country unless farm life can bo made not only more attractive, but actually alluring. It must, bo mada moro lucrative than any of the usual professions or commercial activities, .Most, farmers seemingly aro too heavily mort • gaged to pay tradesmen's wages to their employees. In short, they have paid too much for their land, unpalatable as the admission may be; thus Lhey are-forced to pay 100 much interest, and too little wages. May 1 suggest that an award bo granted now to all rural workers, but not to become operative for, say, ten or fifteen years. Tho latter proviso would allow fanners ample time to prepare fee the change and would allow fofra readjustment of land values to meet the changed conditions. Tho probable effect would 'bo a gradual deflation of prices and tho cutting up of largo holdings into One-nnoi farms, and thus closer settlement, in-

creased production .mid a happier lot for tlio hired "cow-spanker" who would then enjoy equal or even better status than the town worker. In addition to" tlie* above, why not lower tho income t;;\' exemption on townspeople to say £2OO or £250, so that a greater proportion "C city dwellers now exempt would pay ir.eomo tax for the privilege of living: in town, tho extra revenue thus derived to ho applied to opening up the poorer lands for settlement. The single man about town would havo a little less for cigarettes, benzine, pictures, etc., I• ut would live his life just the same and nnploynient would he relieved, if not obliterated. l'robably such drastic schemes would not bo advocated by our M.IVs, becauso too many people would he called upon to make a personal sacrifice for their country's good. The present-day farmers would oppose the idea of a wages award for their workers, and tho suggestion of decreasing the value of their holdings. Tho city youth, too, woild bo right up against paying incoine-tav, and yet. how else can a voluntary drift to tho country bo encouraged. Had such :i schemo been inaugurated ten or fifteen years ago, when the writer was a farm hand, T venture to suggest that the land boom, if any, "would not have reached such ridiculous proportions. Landward.