South Yorkshire Times, June 30th 1933
Hands Across The Sea
Happy Emigrants Well Satisfied With Canada
Old Swintonian Doing Nicely
Digging out the highway from under 35 feet of snow, the result of a snow slide. “Gosh! no, I guess I don’t want to come back to this country to stay.” says Mr. Sam Lockwood, Cedar House Farm, Fernie, British Columbia, formerly of Swinton.
Mr. Lockwood made it plain to a “Times’ representative who had a most interesting chat with him last week-end during his visit “home” that Canada is almost the best country in the world.
Mr. Lockwood, who has two brothers. Messrs. Ben and John Lockwood. now in Swinton, was brought up on a farm at Bradfield. near Sheffield, started work at the age of ten. and before going to Canada in 1909 had worked at Warren Vale, Manvers Main, Wath Main, and various other collieries in the Don and Dearne valleys and also spent two years in Africa as a soldier. He went out to Fernie in British Columbia with his wife and two daughters, then aged four and six, to work in coal mines. Though work was only two or three days a week it was common for a collier to earn £2 or more per day. Eighteen months after his arrival the miners came out on strike and stayed out for a year. During that period they and their families did not want for food.
Those were the days before prohibition prospectors, farmers, indeed men of all trades and professions, were heavy drinkers. Lumbermen would “souse” for weeks, then disappear for months. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood obtained employment in a large hotel, Mr. Lockwood as bar-tender, Mrs. Lockwood as night cook and waitress. The money was exceptionally good and they were satisfied. Then Prohibition came ten years later.
But Mr. Lockwood had seen the probability of unemployment, and had purchased a small farm outside Fernie. He entered the dairy business and since then has prospered. The small farm has been replaced by a large one. It has meant hard work, for every homestead has to be built, and the grating land cleared of trees. Mr. Lockwood has a fine herd with which he wins cups and prizes annually. Regarding trade and industry in Canada at present.
Mr. Lockwood says. “Things aro not too good, but I think there will be a recovery by next fall.” Since April the four large mines near Fernie have been closed. and before that for a long period the men worked only one day a week. Relief, up to the closing of the mines was provided by the town. If they did not earn 60 dollars a month the difference was made up. Now the Government has taken over relief.
The pits are not sunk. but are driven straight into the mountain side. Fernie is on the Crow’s Nest Pass in the Rockies, and has the best coal in Canada. The country is rich in minerals and timber and requires only capital for the return to prosperity. That is Mr. Lockwood’s view. The banks are sound, for only one has had to close its doors in comparison with over 33.000 United States banks. There are great regions unexplored, and it is Mr. Lockwood’s opinion that the old spirit of adventure is lacking.
“The young people are getting too much education to-day. Everybody over there tries to send his children to a high school and college, and the youngsters are being schooled until over 20 years old. This goes on where money is now scarce, where hundreds of farms have had to be given up.” Mr. Lockwood likes the Canadian climate. It is severe in winter, and a common sight for the main road to be buried by a snowslide from the mountains to a depth of 35 feet. There is little spring, and the nights bring moist heat. Mr. and Mr. Lockwood return to Canada on July 7th to be in time for the haymaking.