. SELF-HELP- FARMING-- - the Editor of the SPECTATOR .1'
• , interestingartiele Iladdow aPpeared in the Siiiitatin: of September 8th, _Under the heading of Self-Help.- Farining 'in New Zealandjait-it will not dO for People to thinlZ that 'is the only country- Where farmers do-all -their own repairs- totractorsi implehientS5 etc., as well as building such things as wool sheds, bridges, and hou-ses: Here in Kenji). -it IS-Us-nal to find all too-- ls Mentioned by Mr. Iladdow on a farm, and the average faimer -knows well hoW to use them too. A Workshop is an absolute necessity, as many of us are 100 miles and more from a -town; and- even those -who- live nearer can rarely afford to employ mechanics; carpenters, etc. After ten years in till's country there is very little in the way of blaekamithing Or carpentry -that4 farmer cannot do, and it is a poor look-out for those who have failed to learn how to handle* all the implements and tools enumerated by Mr. Haddow including such thingS as stucks and dies and hack saws. It is not unusual for • a farmer to renietal the bearingi Of his tractors, as well- as doing the yearly -total overhaul and all ordinary running repairs. Rams-and pumps for water supply With piping,' ete.; are usually all fixed with no outside help.
Some 'who can afford it may employ Indian carpenters to build their houses, but the majority are content with home- made houses of split timber such as Mr: Haddow describes, or mud and wattle thatched with grass, or sometimes stone cut and trimmed on the farm, and very attractive many of
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