SUNSHINE ON THE FARM
Sir,-I am a farmer's wife, and have lived in the country all my life and I would very much like to take your gloomy correspondent "Thid," to task concerning "Sunshine (or War) on the Farm." What utter nonsense to say there is no time for tennis or strawberries on a farm! "Rabid romanticism" indeed! Must we all be slaves to our farms, even ‘if small? I agree that there are many who are, but it is, in most cases, the fault of the individuals themselves, I know personally of farmers who have to work hard to make ends meet, but manage to enjoy life too. One family I have in mind have a mixed farm and they rise early, milk their cows, then go out on the farm and put in plenty of hard work until it is time to return to milk. Then they bath, change, and have dinner, which is always over by dark, and in summer there is time left for a little gardening or a quiet smoke outside while twilight falls. They have their hours and, except at very busy periods such as shearing and haymaking, they stick to those hours and are the happiest and most contented people one could meet. Yes, they have their tennis court, too; one they made themselves, and it has
no bitumen surface, just hard clay, but it is quite adequate just the same. It is worse than foolish to say that a farmer must be working from dawn until after dark, only taking time to eat his meals and snatch a few hours’ sleep. If he does this, he lacks system as well as wisdom. Also, how can he expect young people to stay on the land when he makes it so unattractive for them, by expecting them to slave all day and every day, and at all hours? It seems to me that’ the old pioneers had more spirit and initiative than their descendants, and were able to make their own amusements, such as surprise parties, woolshed dances and picnics, and it would be better if the modern farmer took a leaf out of the book of "Dad and Dave" and mixed work with play instead of continually grousing and predicting ruin, The farmer has his troubles, but there is no reason on earth why he and his family should not enjoy life like anyone else. Your contributor "Optimist" shows the right spirit. and I’m with him all
along the line.-
ANOTHER OPTIMIST
(Te Kuiti).
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 64, 13 September 1940, Page 14
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429SUNSHINE ON THE FARM New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 64, 13 September 1940, Page 14
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