LIFE IN CANADA

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1929, Page 2

LIFE IN CANADA

HOW FARMERS FARE

SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES

Mr I!. W. Dayton. arrived in Ashburton on Monday, and will remain in the country during the next Few months, when he intends to gain a practical knowledge ol' farming as practised in New Zealand. Mr Dayton as had a wide and varied experience having been engaged in many different occupations, including surveying, trapping, and trail-making. Referring in conversation with a representative of the “Lyttelton Times’* to the controversy that has been carried on throughout the Dominion with regard to the Alsatian dog, Mr Dayton said that these animals were good guardians and faithful friends, and when known were admirable pets. They were beautiful dogs and fie liked them. However, they were dangerous so far as the intruder was concerned. Tie had expei ieuce that he would always remember. When ho was visiting a home an Alsatian attacked him, it was only the timely command from the owner that saved him from serious injury. The dog's jaws had gripped Mr Dayton’s when it was ordered to retire, and he escaped with only a scratch where the dog’s teeth had grazed his leg. The Canadians were against the Alsatians as town dogs as they considered them to be treacherous.

“Dogs are a curse to the sheep farmer in British Columbia,” said Mr Dayton, “and the farmer is entitled to shoot them on sight if they are on his property.” THE WILY COYOTE,

The farmer’s greatest enemy, he said, was the coyote which considerably hampered successful sheep-farm-ing, and until this pest could be eliinated, this branch could not be unner' taken profitably. In Alberta, however a petition had been circulated to have coyotes protected, as they helped to kill gophers, rats and other small vermin. The Government paid a sum of seven dollars for each coyote pelt that was presented. Trapping coyotes was a profitable undertaking, as trapers in the winter could get from 15 to 20 dollars for a pelt from fur traders, and in the spring, when the fur moulted, they sold the coyote pelts to the Government if or .\*even dollars, “li wc can rid ourselves of these coyotes,” said Mr Dayton, “there is money In sheep.” The price of land in New Zealand was similar to Canada in that it was too dear, and it meant that the tanner had keep his nose to the grindstone to make it pay.

Many ranch owners suffered from herds of wild horses, which soon ate the best of the pastures. These animals were rounded up, and any which wore branded were claimed by their owners and the remainder offered lot sale. Those which were not bought were shot. “It is understood,” added Mr Dayton, “that instead of shooting the animals which are not sold, an American firm in Seattle. intends to buy them and export the tinned meat to Belgium.” FALSE impressions conveyed.

Canada and America said the visitor had vastly changed since the had days and few of the men in the prairie carried revolvers. They were used now mainly for killing wild animals and pests, in Christchurch a small boy asked him, “Did you bring your revolvers? How many Indians have von shot? Did you bring any scalps?” -Mr Dayton was so astonished that he could not reply. He blames moving pictures for the wrong impressions that people have gained of Canada and America. . “We do not have much ramjall in British Columbia,” he said, “the average if all for the year being about ten inches. As it is, we have to pay 15 dollars each year for our Irrigation system. whether we want it or not.” }lr Dayton, who has been in New Zealand only three weeks, is very mtercsted in everything he had seen. In Auckland he saw an engine shunting at a siding, and ho left the tram out whether the engine was of British or American make. He was surprised when told in Ashburton that engines were designed and made m New Zealand.