RURAL FRANCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 146, 27 July 1914, Page 5

RURAL FRANCE.

LECTURE IN Y.M.CJL

The usual weekly meeting of the Y.M.O.A. Debating Club was held on Saturday evening, when Mr C. E. Salter presided over a large attendance. An address was given by Professor Malaquin, who dealt in an interesting manner with the conditions of life in rural France. Dealing with the success of the small holding system in France he said that the average small holding was five or six acres, and that even on three acres a man with his wife and family could make a living and -gave money. He pointed out the great importance of the vine industry to the country, and explained the various stages in the production of wine. He spoke highly of the industry and thrift of the French peasants, explaining the rotation of crops adopted in order to obtain the best returns possible from the soil. In many cases the stock, including even rabbits, for the market were fed by band. Comparing the conditions 40 years ago with those existing to-day, the speaker said that changes were taking place which he could not regard as being beneficial. NO LABOUR. There was, in France, a growing difficulty in obtaining labour for the country. This he partly attributed to the three years' training in the army the young "men had to undergo. When their terms were up, instead of returning to their rural homes they remained in the cities, where they found more amusement and excitement and were better dressed. The result was that France h«\d to import labourers from Morocco and Algeria. In answer to a question, he said that he did not believe that there was as much jealousy between the French and Germans or French and English as was commonly supposed. The trouble was that the people did not think sufficiently for themselves, and were too easily influenced by "the few men at the top," who engineered public affairs and influenced public opinion for their own ends. During the evening a recitation was given by Mr H. B. Flimsoll, and musical items were given by Messrs Glover, Cade, Hardy, and Edwards. A French song was also contributed by Professor Malaquin. Votes of thanks were heartily accorded to the lecturer, those who contributed, and to Mr A. Lilly, the accompanist.