Pastures Past: Life in New Zealand’s remote backblocks during the 1920s

In 1926, the Hawke's Bay Tribune reported that sole teachers in the backblocks were underpaid, overworked and poorly housed. Photo / rafaelbenari, 123rf

Kem Ormond takes a look at the world of farming back in the day. In this week’s Pastures Past, she’s found newspaper articles from the 1920s about life in the “backblocks”.

“Backblocks” is a term heard less frequently today; however, for many, it still evokes a distinct and familiar image.

The term emerged in the mid to late 19th century, used to describe survey blocks of grazing land far from a main station or the coast.

It is commonly used in both Australia and New Zealand and describes remote, sparsely populated rural or bush areas situated far from urban centres and essential amenities.

Comparable to expressions such as “the boondocks,” “the wop wops,” or “the outback,” the term is often associated with a practical and isolated lifestyle.

Back in the 1920s, life in the backblocks was tough; families were desperately waiting for telephone poles so they could get a little closer to maybe having a phone.

Getting a teacher to come and teach was difficult, and finding accommodation for them was almost impossible.

Below is a selection of historical stories from the Pahiatua Herald (1922), the Hawke’s Bay Tribune (1926), and the Whanganui Chronicle (1927).

Backblocks telephones

Delay of material

Pahiatua Herald, August 30, 1922

The Postmaster-General controverted a suggestion by Mr Poland yesterday that while hundreds of new telephones are connected in the cities, many backblocks settlers had to wait years for this means of communication.

Mr Poland had spoken on behalf of a number of settlers on the Waihi Plains, who paid a deposit to secure a party line two years ago and were still waiting for the poles.

Mr Coates promised to enquire into this particular case, adding that on the question of general policy backblocks connection were No. 1 on the list, but in some cases delay took place through scarcity of material.

“Our anxiety,” he concluded. “Is to give backblocks settlers first consideration.”

Life in the backblocks

Sole Teachers’ Trials

Underpaid and overworked

Better inducements urged

(Special to “Tribune”)

Parit. Buildings, July 17

Hawke’s Bay Tribune, July 17, 1926

The difficulties and discomforts suffered by sole teachers in the backblocks were brought to the notice of the Minister of Education by Sir George Hunter in the House of Representatives yesterday.

Sir George said that there was always a difficulty getting teachers to go into the backblocks because they knew that in many cases they would be underpaid and overworked and have great difficulty in finding suitable accommodation.

He urged that better inducements should be given to teachers to undertake the responsibility of educating children in the backblocks.

In his district he had several schools in charge of sole teachers, and he knew that those teachers laboured under great difficulty in obtaining suitable accommodation.

Sir John Luke supported Sir George Hunter’s remarks.

“Although I am a city man, I am young enough to get about the country a good deal,” said Sir John.

“I appeal to the Hon. Minister of Education to unlock the exchequer as far as his department is concerned and do away as far as possible with solo teachers in the backblocks. Teachers should be brought into a standard school by motor cars. To do that would be a tribute to the capacity of the Minister.”

Minister’s sympathy

The Minister of Education, the Hon. R. A. Wright, said the department had every sympathy with the teacher in the backblocks.

The problem was difficult, because many country teachers were ladies and they would not care to live in residences by themselves.

However, as far as the general question was concerned, the department was striving to provide teachers’ residences where they were likely to be occupied.

Girl Farmers

Working in backblocks

Immigrants set good example

(Special to “Chronicle.”)

Auckland, April 2.

Wanganui Chronicle, April 4, 1927

The reluctance of New Zealanders to go on to farms in the backblocks has long been deplored by those who consistently complain of the “drift to the towns,” and members of the Waikato Sub-Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union received a shock to-day when they were informed that two English girls had applied for positions on farms in the backblocks of the Waikato district.

These two girls, who are evidently possessed of the right spirit and a hardy nature, are at present working in the back country of the West Coast near Hokitika.

Their eagerness would put to shame many of those youths who prefer idling away their time in the streets instead of entering into regular work.

- Source: Papers Past