The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, MARCH 22, 1886. PERMANENT PROSPERITY IN RURAL DISTRICTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1664, 22 March 1886, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, MARCH 22, 1886. PERMANENT PROSPERITY IN RURAL DISTRICTS.

In our previous issue we referred ■m our leading columns to the undesirable feature of the proneness of population to concentrate m the towns rather than spread over the country. We alluded to the demoralizing effects of this growing trait on the part of a large proportion of the population of New Zealand. Mr Froude noticed this feature during his recent visit, and pointed out how impossible it was, if such were continued, ever to make New Zealand a great nation, or its working population progressive and self-reliant. The New Zealand Herald refers to the same feature, and remarks that this concentration of the population m the 1 towns is an unnatural spectacle m an old part of the world, and how much more so m a new one ? In England, for a long time now, the course of circumstances has tended to deplete the rural districts, and draw their inhabitants to the cities. Throughout the present century until recent years there was, as we lately explained, the temptation m England to increase manufacturing production, and so towns immediately expanded. Side-by-side with this the prices of most rural produce fell from the necessity of the vast civic populations ta be more cheaply fed, and from the improved facilities of transport and getting food from abroad, and^ m consequence husbandry has ceased to pay under the existing system m England — has ceased to yield the triple returns wanted for landlord, farmer, and labourer. Hence throughout England and Scotland the capital of the farmers has been so much reduced that they are often unable to stock their holdings properly, or employ labour as they used to do ; and it is computed that during the, last 15 years as many as 800,000 labourers have left the fields for the towns, which have been overcrowded for a much longer period, because the foreign markets for their manufactures are not so extensive as they were 20 or 80 years ago. Time was, and not such a great while back, when the vast majority of the nation lived m the pure air of the green fields, and led the natural rural life; but now London alone, with its suburbs, contains as many people crowded together as were m all England m the year 1700. But perhaps the question may be asked : — Point out an example of permanent prosperity m rural districts. We can see it m a portion of the British Kingdom, and close to English shores — namely m the Channel Islands. All travellers speak of their happy, prosperous condition, and there a population of small landowners is to be seen — not of modern creation as m France, Belgium, and many other parts of the Continent, but existing from time immemorial. Take the island of Guernsey for instance. Among the peasant proprietary a man is considered rich who has twenty or thirty acres. Most of those little estates are said to range from only five to twelve acres. Because of the ownership they were comfortable and contented, even m the old time when they had little of an outside market;

and now the steam engine brings their surplus produce to England. They possess orchards and make cider; the grape, fig, and melon, which are hot-house fruits m Britain, a few hours sail away, grow m their softer climate m the open air ; and besides raising their own food they have for export dairy produce, and grow flowers for perfumery. A recent visitor to the island of Sark, another of the Channel Islands, has [ given a glowing description of so- < cial life there to the New Zealand Herald^ which affirms that undoubtedly the chief reason why m these colonies' people are congregated m cities rather than distribu- { ted over the country, has proceeded from a want of common sense m our legislation. Proper opportunities were not provided for the establishment of a numerous body of small landowners. In the United j States they afford . the opportunity — not only liberally, but far too 1 liberally, for they allow the liberality to be abused. New Zealand is a country peculiarly adapted to small farm settlements, the quality of the land being uniformly good, the climate salubrious, and the country districts reasonably accessible to ports. It is to be deplored that there is not a greater tendency on the part of our working population to push out into the country, and create homes for themselves and their families ; instead of continuing to reside m the cities, where, while wages are good they learn to iive extravagantly, and when depression sets m they become demoralised, and join the unemployed. How much better would they be m the country, as well from a social and moral point of y iew, as from that of the physical well-being, and enhanced future prospects of themselves mid all belonging to them.