A BAD ADVERTISEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1927, Page 3

A BAD ADVERTISEMENT

“FARMERS LIVING ON TURNIPS.” “1 don’t believe for a moment that there is such poverty amongst the farmers of Taranaki that they were forced during the past winter to live on turnips and sleep in sacks,” said Air R. Cock, cue of the pioneers of the dairying industry and a man who has played" and still plays a considerable part in the development of the resources of the province, to a “ Taranaki News ” reporter. “If you can find me a farmer so indigent I’ll willingly hand to him 1001 b of flour and three blankets.

•• This sort of statement does us no good,” continued Air Cock. “It ad-: vertises us as a poor district when, as a matter of fact, we are a very fortunate one. I’ll guarantee that the farmer of to-day is far better off than he was 30 years ago, when lie only got 2>d per gallon (equal to about 8d per lb butter-fat) for his milk, and then did not have to resort to turnips to subsist upon or to sleep in sacks. In those days the settler had no complaints; he lived well, tore into Ins work, built up tlie province, and made New Zealand what it is to-day the finest country in the world. He was an example that should be followed by the men of to-day, who really have little of which to complain.”