BRIGHTEN UP COUNTRY LIFE.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 697, 6 January 1922, Page 4

BRIGHTEN UP COUNTRY LIFE.

One of the most discouraging, and even menacing, features of modern life is ‘.the continuous drift of . population to the city centres. Up from the country towns and' districts there is a steady flow of bright talented' enterprising young life, drawn by the iure of larger opportunities and brighter social environment or prompted bv a discontent with the monotony and drudgery of conditions of country life. This tendency has of course been more noticeable in the older centres of civilisation, particularly in Great Eritain and America, but Australia is rapidly following in the same direction, and now our own dominion of New Zealand is experiencing it also, /though by no means to the same extent. That the undue proportion of city rural population is fraught with grave social and moral consequences goes without saying—and (the baneful effects of the Gcfv gestion , and artificial ways of city life are always in evidence, reacting most unfavourably upon the population as a whole—rural as well as urban. There are abundant reasons why the citizens of this Dominion should, while there is yet ‘time, be busy about the matter of preventing to the utmost extent possible any further drift of the sort now under consideration. One of the most wise and useful directions in which action should be undertaken is to provide for country life some measure of the brightness and variety characteristic of the cities and larger provincial centres. Each country town should be honestly ambitious of serving its surrounding country areas in such a fashion as to largely counteract the attraction of the greater centres. These latter have . their use, but not tc any such great extent as is imagined—they can well be left alone by a large proportion of the population ; but country life and the activities of primary production are absolutely indispensable to the true welfare of any countx-y. Of course, the matter resolves itself into a question of what best can be done to remove the drawbacks a,t present attached to life away fi’om the cities -—and how best to go about the business of px-oviding such compensations and facilities as ai-e found to be lacking. For one thing each rural district should have its social hall, with eomfoi'table arrangements and appointments for fi’equent gatherings of a wholesome and varied natui'e. The usual dance by no means complies with these l'equii’ements, something more morally bracing and intellectually stimulating is needed as an offset to the somewhat dull, and at times, uncongenial surroundings of ordinary life and woi'k in the farming districts, and particularly where dairying is the chief industry. Lectures on educative lines of a popular sort, moving pictures showing the better instead of the baser sides of domestic life. Travel and adventures should be screened, as also views of natural life and scenex-y, music and singing should have their clue place—and every effort made to raise popular taste in these important and formative influences. Occasionally a local parliament could be held when questions intimately connected with the betterment of local conditions and environment could be fi*eeiy discussed and resolved upon. The cooperation of Church and School might well be sought in some of these matters, pei’haps most of all in the provision of both outdoor and indoor recreation, and social entertainment. Members of the legal and medical professions could perhaps be persuaded to devote an evening now and ■again to help things along by lectures or addi’esses on timely matters of local and general interest and importance, w T hile business men might well lend a hand in such a fashion as to conti’ibute something towai’ds the proposed effort. Make the very most and best of our country life. Last, but not least, the local newspaper could carry on a wisely diredted propaganda in the same direction and do much to secure a consummation sc devoutly to be wished.”