THE PIONEER DAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20482, 6 February 1930, Page 16

THE PIONEER DAYS.

SELF-SUPPORT PRINCIPLE.

STANDARDS OF LIVING. NEED FOR MORE FARMERS. When ono reads the stories of pioneer settlement in New Zealand it is difficult to understand why there should bo any pessimism regarding fanning as an occupation to-day. Wo seem to possess nowall that tlio older generations hoped for and dreamt of—roads, bridges, markets, social life, quick communication—everything, in fact, which makes life 011 the land profitable and attractive. The only things that seem lacking arq the old ideals; tho desiro for individual freedom of action, the lovo of rural life. And yet nothing which the dreary Jeremiahs of to-day preach so assiduously can do away with the fact that there are still among us a very large number of men, and women, too, who would gladly give up the so-called pleasures of city life and sacrifice the comforts of radiator-warmed offices and sheltered factories for the open-air lifo and tlio physical labour of farming.

It is difficult to understand tlio reason for tho chaugc that has conio over us, if change there he. No doubt our system of education has altered to some e.stcnt tlio psychology of the present generation. They have been taught so assiduously that the professions and the trades, tlio civil service and the church, offer all that is good in life, and that the cities alone have scopo for the ambitious and the educated, that they are utterly unable to realise what rural industries have to offer.

Training of the Young. One has only to read the pamphlet recently issued by the Education Department to understand what effect tlio school training of our young pcoplo must have 011 their outlook. This pamphlet is intended to describe tlio vocations and careers open to young people in New Zealand after they have passed tho various examinations or attained the standards of proficiency which aro supposed to enable them to becomo useful citizens. It is rather a pitiful example of pedagogic futility whero it deals with professions and trades, but when it deals with agriculture as an occupation it is almost tragic.

Apparently, the early settlers in New Zealand were content to livo a very simple and thrifty life, and they were certainly none tho worso for so-doing. As a matter of fact, they were undoubtedly happier than the people of to-day, and were, averagely, more cultured. That they were strong and vigorous is recognised by tho difficulties they overcame and the works they performed.

There is no need for our settlers to go back to the conditions under which their pioneer forefathers lived, to the growing of grain amid the stumps of the forest trees they felled, the grinding of wheat by hand-mills, to the house of split palings and shingle roof; they can live simply and thriftily and still have far more luxuries and conveniences than tho pioneers ever knew. There is a vast difference in the standard of living between 1860 and 1930, and herein lies one of the great differences between the " early days " and now, and herein lies also one of the difficulties of land settlo ment to-day. It is by no means impossible for men and women to live now as their fathers lived, almost entirely on the products of the farm, but mider the complex social system of the present time j it is neither necessary nor desirable;, and, moreover, the spread and growth of civilisation makes it almost a crime for individuals to *live entirely for themselves.

Toll of Rates and Taxes. Though a settler may isolate himself in the wildest part of the Dominion, he cannot escape the toll of rates and taxes. These have grown with the building of roads and bridges, with railways and other conveniences. Men and women may economise as much as they like in their own homes; "they can lower their own standard of living, but they cannot lower the standard of the State, nor can they, even though willing enough to separate themselves from their fellows, separate themselves from the community—from the body politic. Some people complain about individual extravagance - causing difficulties for the modern settler, and there may be some reason for that comprint but, generally speaking, it is the extravagance of the Stato which is handicapping land settlement to-day, and it is the farmer who has to, pay the largest share for public works and for the upkeep of our immense civil service and Siate departments. For a country v it.h so small a population as New Zealand there has been accumulated an enormous public debt. Wo have public works, and public officials on a scale sufficient for twice the number of people now living in the Dominion, so that it is obvious that the simplest method of reducing the costs per head is to increase our population, and particularly our wealth-earning popula tion. This, as we know, can only be done by increasing the number of our farmers, and this is why an energetic land settlement policy is so essential that it should become the slogan of every political party in the country.