GRAPHIC STORY OF FAMILY'S LIFE IN MANGATITI VALLEY

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 November 1948, Page 4

GRAPHIC STORY OF FAMILY'S LIFE IN MANGATITI VALLEY

Poor Roads, Rough Living Conditions And River Area Isolation

A graphic story of the life of a family in the Mangatiti area, between Raetihi and Pipiriki, which has been abandoned by the Crown and compensation paid to the farmers, was given to the Royal Commission on the Sheep Industry in the evidence submitted by a committee of the Wanganui Provincial of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers.

In giving evidence to the Commission, the chairwoman of the W.D.F.F. Committee, said the story was given by a member of the W.D.F.F. “In 1919 I was married, my husband being a returned soldier from World War 1,” stated, the evidence. “We settled in the Mangatiti Valley, 30 miles from Raetihi, and 17 miles from the Wanganui River, the Mangatiti Landing being 17 miles upstream from Pipiriki. We did not use this landing very much as the boat service was not very convenient. “The road from Raetihi was metalled for nine miles, play road for 15 miles, and pack track for the remainder. The valley had been settled for almost seven years, there being 18 settlers in occupation at that period. Dwellings were mostly of slab and shingle of two to four rooms, with no conveniences such as hot and cold water, baths, etc. Water had to be carried from creeks or wells; tanks came later; washing facilities were tubs outside on a slab bench. In 1926 the Government of the day, after numerous deputations, petitions and interviews, decided to complete the dray road access. Several years later the same procedure as to deputations, etc., and the road was metalled. This lack of loading in itself was a serious drawback to successful settlement. MEDICAL ATTENTION “My three children were born before the advent of the dray road, necessitating having to ride a horse to the end of the pack track, then proceeding by buggy o» car to Raetihi, our nearest doctor being at Raetihi. In cases of accident or sudden illness we, of course, immediately got in touch with the doctcel by telephone.and if the case was a very bad one the patient was taken per stretcher either to the boat or to the end of the road to connect with a vehicle. One lady was badly scalded on the face and arms, and she was carried to the river.and taken to Wanganui. Our youngest boy broke his arm when he was three years old, and my husband and I took him out on horseback to connect with a vehicle to take us to Raetihi; the tracks were very bad at that time and we had to climb up and over slips in several places. “For some years we had only a once-weekly mail service, carried per pack horse for 15 miles, and what an event mail day was! Later this service was extended to twice weekly, and later still, as the road progressed, was carried per motor lorry. Our little school was opened in 1928 by the combined efforts of the settlers, who contributed material and labour. The mail service and school were only accomplished facts after months of the usual deputations and interviews with various Government officials. The school teachers were boarded by the settlers and for most of the period they lived with us. EFFECTS OF 1926 SLUMP. “In 1926 the second slump occurred and that saw the start of the deterioration of the land, settlers having to sell their capital stock to enable them to carry on, with a consequent understocking which allowed the scrub and fern to take charge. Several settlers gave up the unequal struggle and a further slump in later years saw more settlers leave, and in 1943 the Government decided to close Hie area, only seven settlers being then left. Two cloudbursts, one in 1940, when the road was completely closed for vehicle traffic for nine months, and another in 1942, when it was

closed foi- a whole year, finally decided the fate of the Valley. “In the interim, the slab houses had been replaced by more modern homes in which the settings of beautiful gardens and lay-out of trees and shrubs and orchards played a part—.the low altitude and warm climate being a favourable factor. Some settlers put in small electric lighting plants but they, of course, only solved the lighting problem. "Social life was very limited and while our children were young we could not journey far—an occasional day spent with a neighbour was our only treat—later as the roads improved we held sports meetings and an occasional woolshed dance, school picnic, etc. "We got our supplies in every three months, it being quite an event and, until we built our own houses and had more room, quite a problem to store. On several occasions we found our sugar and flour flavoured with kerosene —having been packed in close proximity on the waggon—or our breakfast cereal tasting of soap. These were things we just could not take, so back they had to go. Fruit grew in abundance, the climate being very suitable for all stone and pip fruits, consequently the summer months were very busy ones for the housewives, with preserving, jam making, etc., but I am sure all have missed their lovely orchards since leaving the valley. We grew marmalade oranges, lemons, passion fruit and grapes, as well as other fruits. A community spirit was always uppermost, all being willing to share and exchange their surplus fruit and vegetables. “In spite of all the trials and tribulations we had to face it was a happy life, and we all feel rather sad now when we think of those abandoned homes. FEAR OF ILLNESS. One point the foregoing story leaves out is the ever-lasting fear, repeated over and over again by others, of illness and no help at hand. A fear which seems to be at the bottom of every back country woman's heart. The fear of a blocked road, or a dangerous road, and nursing a seriously sick child or husband without medical advice or nursing assis: nee. The fear of the mother’s possible illness with no one at hand to attend to a young family. Serious complications or accidents could occur before help arrived. The evidence was repeated in some form in many places. “If these areas were given better access they would be on even terms with other second class land,” stated the evidence. “To maintain production of all second class land, the farmer must be provided with the means to employ sufficient labour, married labour, adequately housed. “When you do that you have removed some of the county womens disabilities. You have relieved the employer’s wife of the burden of providing for single men. You give the employees the enjoyment of family life. You increase the population oi the area and make some sort of community life. "You make certain of schooling facilities for the families without resorting to the two extremes of the Government correspondence school which adds so much to the housewives’ work —think of the outcry from city women when they had for a short period to superintend their children's lessons—or the long distances travelled to consolidated schools which are not good for the children.”