WOMEN HERD TESTERS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 230, 24 June 1943, Page 6

WOMEN HERD TESTERS

From Northland to the Bluff, members of the 'Women’s Herd Testers’ Reserve are now in Wellington attending a three-day reunion and refresher course, lhe girls are enthusiastic about their work and love the outdoor life. They pay a tribute to the hard-worked farmers’ wives, who nevertheless are ready with a warm welcome for them and show them muchappreciated kindness. •_ The herd testers usually arrive at a farm in time for the afternoon milking aud leave the following morning after the early morning milking. Sometimes they have to be up at 1 a.m. for special testings. However, they look on the blight side of things and point out that they have the best part of the day to themselves and can therefore enjoy the sunCity girls as well as those from the country have made a success of the work. In one case, a girl from the reception desk of a big hotel entered for the course and surprised everyone by finishing in first place and becoming one ot the best women in the reserve. _ , At the opening of the session yesterday, the acting-president, Miss Margaret Selby, was in the chair. Miss Selby has had experience also in the M omen s Land Army in England, where she worked in the early days of the war. Mr. Hamilton, of the Department of Scientihe and Industrial. Research, spoke on the comparison of herd improvement in Denmark and New Zealand. After a break for afternoon tea, the girls were addressed by Mr. E. Neilsen, consulting officer ot the New Zealand Dairy Board. 1' or relaxation there was a picture party at night. . n Today’s programme will open at J o’clock with a talk by Mr. C. M. herd testing supervisor. After lunch th<? party will visit the Wallaceville Laboratory, where they will inspect the premises and hear a talk on dairy hygiene. At night the annual meeting of the reserve will be held. Owing to travel difficulties there was no annual meeting held fast vear, that of 1941 taking place at Massey College, where a refresher course was held. Tomorrow morning, Miss O. Bustle, of the Statistical Department, will address the gathering, her subject including the significance of sire survey. This is the slack period, m the herd testers’ work and at this time the girls may enjoy their holidays and a wcdearned rest.