Interview with Fred Early

Interview with Fred Early. Born in 1926, Ashburton. Talks about paternal great grandfather Samuel Early emigrating in 1860 and his grandfather Charles Early who bought Greendale farm in 1876. Discusses his father Leslie John (Les) Early, mother Rosetta Mildred (Rose) Early (nee Wells), and his siblings Athene, Eric, Lawrie, Phyllis, Annie and Ivan. Educated at Greendale primary school and Christchurch Boys High School. Recalls going to school in governess cart and railways bus, and using slate boards. Talks about living on Greendale farm, and Waterford farm as child. Discusses changes in Selwyn and Hororata rivers and why the rivers are more frequently dry now. Details arable farming as growing wheat, barley, lucerne crops, plus using Clydesdale horses, traction engine, wooden mill, chaff cutter, and cross engine chase tractor. Refers to his father being in cavalry in World War One, surviving Gallipoli, and buying Alford Forest farm in 1919 when rehabiliatated after WW1. Mentions not selling wool during the Depression.

Talks about father and his brothers owning Te Pirita 3000 farm block, south of Hororata river. Mentions Americans funding secret building of Te Pirita airfield in 1942 by local contractors to cater for American bombers when Japanese invasion looked imminent.

Says left school at 16. Refers to being part of food production effort to support England during World War Two, such as exporting lambs. Describes wheat harvest using Massey Harris header and sewing sacks. Compares rail and truck transport. Talks about shearing, cultivation work, stock work, fencing and the merino run block 'The Plains'. Mentions shortage of petrol and tyres.

Refers to purchasing Alford Forest farm from his father after his marriage in 1953 to Miriel (Joan) Ridgen, running it for 12 years. Describes developing more intensive farming methods, breeding Romney sheep, running beef cattle, dabbling in small seeds and new grasses. Refers to Pyne Gould Guinness as his banker. Discusses shifting to new farm Lyndhurst in 1966 where he ran Corriedale, then Borderdale and Border sheep. Refers to sticking with wheat, barley, then growing triticali, oats, peas, white clover and grass seed. Comments on lack of irrigation, impact of dry nor'west wind, stoney soil, and importance of tree shelter belts. Mentions heavy snows in Methven area. Details methods of improving soil fertility, using nitrogen, superphosphate, lime, and growing lupins. Talks about start of bulk harvesting in early 1970s meant changing to storing grain in silos. Refers to agricultural spraying, using Roundup to deal with Twitch.

Explains impact of 1972-1973 purchase allowance and the removal of farm subsidies in late 1980s. Mentions hardship during 1980s South Island East Coast drought. Talks about roles his wife and children played on the farm. Refers to participating in school committees and Methodist church. Says he shifted to Ashburton with wife in 1997. Reflects on technology changes and hopes that small farmer is not being squeezed out by corporate farms.

Interviewer(s) - Nicola Robertson

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-016735 - OHC-016738

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Electronic document(s). 1 interview(s). 4 Hours Duration.

Physical Description: Textual files - Adobe PDF

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-6025; OHDL-001820.

Search dates: 1926 - 2007

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Both printed and digital copies of the abstract are available