LIVING COSTS ON THE LAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21601, 23 March 1932, Page 13

LIVING COSTS ON THE LAND

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As I have an insight into the difficulties experienced by the man on the land, I consider that the statements made by an Invercargill magistrate at a recent sitting of the court lend themselves to severe criticism. In the first place, much water hag passed under the bridge since man depended on such primitive methods of living on what he could capture, as illustrated in the magistrate’s remark that “ there are thousands of rabbits almost at the back door that could almost be knocked over with a stick.” Certainly sticks are plentiful, but, if rabbits were so prolific as the magistrate stated, would not he himself be amongst the first to convict and fine substantially the farmer who had allowed such hosts of rabbits to exist “almost at the back door?”

One is tempted to ask, too, what judgment the same magistrate would pass upon the farmer who would send his children to school clad in nought but “sackcloth and ashes,” seeing that, according to his Worship’s remark, the only living 9xpensea incurred by, the farmer are for;

“bread, Buffar, and tea?’’ Why sugar and tea should have been selected is puzzling, unless the magistrate had in mind at the time that both these taxable luxuries added substantially to the revenue of the country out of which he derives no meagre salary. Apparently medical expenses are not included in his Worship’s category of living costs on the farm unless he considers that coursing rabbits before one’s meal provides exercise so healthful as to eliminate the necessity of ever consulting a doctor. Again, too, we think of bread, sugar, and tea.” What? Not even a grain of salt? Does his Worship forget the old prohpets adage, “Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? Were one to ask his Worship to submit his menu, would one find thereon unsavoury foods along with ’bread, tea, and sugar?—l am. etc,, „ Unsavoury Rabbit. Clinton, March 17.