FARMING CONDITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21598, 19 March 1932, Page 16

FARMING CONDITIONS

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —“ Old Time Farmer ” writes comparing farming of 30 years ago with that of to.-day,' There is no comparison whatever, to my way of thinking. In the first place, he says in those days no one had metal roads -running to his door. I know of many farmers and runholders wbo have grass and clay roads runniugto their property at the present time. Regarding the rabbit question, I know that rabbits and rabbit skins brought a good price, and rabbits were prevalent, many fanners in my district practically paid off their farms and runs with the money denvea from the poor despised bunny. I myself made a great deal of money out oi the rabbits on our own farm. Things must have been pretty bad 'where “ Old ‘ Time Farmer ” lived, .for 1 know for a fact that even girls could get hacks to ride, and good ones, too,in our district. “Old Time Farmer" nlust live in a place where tractors are greatly in use.' Here in this district there are'only two; in fact, one farmer usually works up about 300 acres of land with one six-horse team. Nowadays you do not see too many farmers riding about the country in £4OO motor care. They are all at home, and are not too. proud to work. “ Old 1 Time Farmer ”is only judging the hard-worked farmer by a few who may do as he alleges'. If he were to take a trip into the back-blocks of Otago he would find plenty of farmers working hard who are just as good a type of farmer in every way ns he knew 30 years ago. Then compare things nowadays with 30 years ago. Rates were just about the same, but theile were no power board rates or hospital rates. Moreover, if a farmer lives six or, eight miles mway from his nearest township, as many ■'do oti whom I know, a telephone is ’an ■essential nowadays, and he does not get it for nothing. A motor car, also, is handy for him if he can afford to run it. I know of many farmers who, when times were good, paid ofi all their mortgages, etc., and at the present time find it pretty hard' to keep things going. I grant this much, that there were some farmers who a few years ago did live well above their incomes, but I say—and most people, will agree-7-tliey deserve no consideration ’ or sympathy from us or from the Government. —I am, etc., ; - Farmer's Son. Dunback, March 17.