PIONEERING DAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23748, 30 August 1940, Page 12

PIONEERING DAYS

Sir, —I was interested in the letter bv "Somewhat Harassed" in the Herald of August 24 and "Not So Young" does not help much, as her letter is only another complaint. We arc supposed to bo having more money to spend, but it is like putting it into your right hand td" take it out of your left, leaving you as you were before, or worse. My mind goes back a long way to parents who lived natural lives and never thought whether they could afford children or not. The father's wage was 30s a week: his wife never had more than a pound a week ; and they reared 15 children. These children were raised on home-made brown broad and potatoes, with dripping at 4d a lb. instead of butter. For a change it was dripping on toast, and- baked potatoes, a change from boiled. Tho children all grew to bo sixfooters, never went to hospital or dentist, nor needed it. Tho parents never appealed to the Government or anyone •else. If they had a hard strugglo that was their business. The children were their responsibility. : Nothing was bought ready made. Children's clothes were often washed after they were in bed and were ready for school next morning. Once a pair of little pants could not do another day, so mother fetched out her best dress, cut out tho leg of mutton sleeves and made them into a new pair of pants for school next day, wearing her dross as a pinafore._ They started buying the house before thev, were married and the payments Were like a' rent, but it was tneir own, in so far as they could have the little ones they loved without anyone interfering. A hard life, some may think, but the parents were rewarded in seeing tlioir family grow up strong and thrifty. I will say that ng soon as they were able they found little jobs to do in tho evenings selling newsI papers, and errands, which is not allowed now, but I'm sure it did no harm to thorn, but taught them tho value of money earned and kept them out of mischief. The mother made all their clothes and father spent his spare cash in leather and soled little, shoes on the Saturday afternoon, when he was not digging in thb garden, which was a mile from his homo. I have tried to show "Somewhat Harassed" that she need not do without her little family if she is prepared for sacrifice, which is never so great as the reward which a family of children givo to those who look for no reward but love. Tho members of this family are all .in good trades or professions and, there is no holiday they enjoy so much as to visit the old home. I'm sure there are many grandparents who could tell of similar successes. Labour and Wait.