RURAL LIFE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 149814, 30 May 1914, Page 15

RURAL LIFE.

BRIGHTER CONDITIONS UKGED.

SOME VITAL SUGGESTIONS

There waited upon the Annual Conference of tho New Zealand Formers' Chion (Canterbury branch) y«tc*two representatives from the i-M.C.A., desired to address the "Farmers' Parliament" upon tbo subject of increasing the happiness of lifo Ju tho country r and so check the increase of urban population. Mr J. D. Hall said that he proposed to speak upon the subject of the organisation oi country lile. The poP u " lation of the country in relation to the towns had decreased - from 54 per cent, of tho whole in 1901 to 49 per cent, m 1911. This showed that there was a trend of population towards tho town, a.nd that affected tho general constitution of the country. Lord Islington, the Imperial Trade Commissioner, and Professor Davies, of Harvard, had all commented on this aspect. It was plain that when the country became unattractive to the people, the whole basis of affairs was being upset. There must be sonic discomfort which was driving the people into tho towns, and he invited the Conference to think why it was tho young people and the workers were migrating to tho towns. What made them unhappy in the country ? MORE SOCIAL LIFE. By tho organisation of country life it was proposed that some remedy bo found. He was inclined to think that the fault lay chiefly with the lack of social life. But at tho same timo the economic life and the moral and spiritual life needed attention, when a boy left the primary school, - thero was rarely .anyone to give him a word of advice. The smart boy remained in town, and the plodder stayed in the country. Hut ho did not alvrays stay there. * Would it not be well to establish some kind of organisation which would get into touch with the boys, the parents and the teachers at this important period of life. American statistics showed that the boy with tho best education earned the most money in tho second year of his working career, and he (the speaker) believed m more education being given to the boys. Another drift that had to be stopped was tho drift into tho ranks of unskilled labour. Education was one means of preventing this, aud would be ono part of the organisation scheme proposed. In the social life an important thing was to have all organisations properly linked up because diffusion meant a waste ot energy and general waste. One organisation had more power than hair a dozen scattered forces. CO-OPERATION WANTED. Ou tho ecouomic eide of farm life, a great deal of improvement could be effected. Co-operation had great possibilities, as was shown by results in Ireland. By co-operation more satisfactory results would bo achieved by tho farmers themselves, as well as by the employees. The "keyman to help the boy was the schoolmaster, and ho ought to bo able to advise tho parents as to the boy's further education. In Christchurch, Mr Babcock interviewed all the boys who were leaving school in a certain month, nnd by a -little conversation with their parents and themselves he iucreased the number of boys who were to attend the secondary and technical schools by some Id per cent. This showed what could be done, and similar results- could be achieved in the country- If the scheme commended itself to the Conference, the best way to go to work would be to secure, an expert, who would bo -placed in one district to devoto his timo entirely to it, except that trips for advisory purposes could be mado. The best man that he could think of was Mr Babcock. If delegates wanted further information, ho would bo delighted to supply literature from world authorities .which was most illuminating and inspiring. It was not a thing that required 'booming,'"' but needed quiet and effective work. " ' . 'fBEACH THE BOYS." Mr E. C. Brownell, secretary of the V.M.C.A.. said that the most promising line of work to-day was work ior young mon and boys in rural districts. The basis of membership was service, and the idea was work' for the betterment of the home lifo and social conditions of the workers there. Many vouhg men had gone to waste through misuse of. their talents. Tho administration could be done by a small group of men in a country. The real needs of the community were studied, and no competitiou entered into the scheme, which aimed simply at helping the whole life of the district. Another helpful feature along the practical line was the giving of lectures upon rural subjects, and the establishment of libraries, which would bo helpful to all in the country. Special lectures wero dovised for'schoolboys. Tho library was a tremendous factor in success. In ono county in America 250 boys in one year learned how to do .some useful thing. The parents were taught how to 4 keep their children interested in country life, and social lifo was encouraged. The work had to be undertaken in a sane and common-sense way by the ground heing first thoroughly examined. An expert was always needed. He could cover a big area aud do a great deal towards remedying the drift of population towards the town, and increasing the happiness of the countryside. Mr R. Evans mentioned "the Teal bad example' presented by men of fifty who. having rea-isod a competence in the country, deserted it for .residence in the town-

Mr G. Sheat pointed out some of the difficulties in checking the trend of life towards the towns. Mr Lill said that what should be impressed upon the young folk was the face that'all labour was honourable. Mr Ensor suggested that when a branch meeting of the Union was being held, a representative of the V.M.C.A should bo asked to attend, and so make the acquaintance of the young people and make a beginning in this work He heartily thanked the speakers for their remarks.