FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1902. THE SLAVES OF THE DAIRY.

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 92, 18 April 1902, Page 4

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1902. THE SLAVES OF THE DAIRY.

The fact* related to our representative by Mr. T. R. Fleming, Senior Inspector of Schools for this distinct, in the course of the interview reported in our issue of yestorday confirm to a very large extent our contention touching the evil effeetß of milking upon many children in the dairy districts of the colony. Like ourselves, Mr. Fleming recognises the hardships with which struggling dairy farmers have to contend, but, as an expert educational officer, he is forced to admit from his own experience that too groat a share of tho burden is placed by many parents upon their offspring. The instances he quoted fully support the opinion he expressed. They ore drawn, too, from an education district which is, generally speaking, less devoted to dairying than others that might bo named. If the Wellington district can produce such tollinv illustrations as thoso cited, what may bo expected from searching investigation in tho Turanuki, the Wanganui, and other districts of the North Island? Ib may be that children occasionally exaggerate their labours in order to excuse inattention or negligonco during school hours ; it is certain, too, that many da ; ry-farmers would Bcorn to sacrifice their children's future for tho sako

of iiresenl gains; but s>till thcie is ie.n;on to believe th.it in nunieiiiu-i i'aunlioH tlio uliiltii'cn aiu lcejit in a hlate of what may without hvpei'liolc be called "hluveiy." Ah a nuUiKil uon.-jcquciice the Stale doeH not gt'l ii jimjiiT letuiu for the freo and c<nn[iulsoi\ education it provides. The childien themselves, at the same time,' have their intellectual development relurdcd. It inu.sL be remembered that iv these nuuleru days every mun and woman in Now Zealand unnn reaching years of disci et ion has v vote, is entitled to a *lmre in tho determination of his or her country'B policy. In theso circumstances it is not enough to train up children to bo good milkers and physically strong. Thoy must be taught to think ns well as to do. If their carlv years are to be given up to such bodily drudgery as Mr. Fleming describes, it is most unlikely that they will ever become mentally strong, whatever thoy may be physically. A country contemporary, the Wairarapa Daily Times, has, we observe, taken up the cudgels in defence of the parents. It has, no doubt, stated well the case for the employment of • children, bub its arguments, it seems to us, will not bold good in face of tho facts disclosed. Speaking of milking, our Wairarapa contemporary says: — "Tho labour iB pleasant, hoalthy, and invigorating, and it is extremely profitable to the community. Dairying could not, in numberless instances, bo made to pay unless the children of settlers milked cows," aud in another place, "wo quite agree that overwork of any kind which produces physical deterioration, should be prevented ; but open-air employment which builds up strong, healthy, self-reliant men and women should be encouraged." Tho writer of tho article from which we quote seemß to think that cases we havo mentioned in previous articles were more or less isolated and extreme instances of protracted duty at the cow-bail. For our own part we are disposed to think he is mistaken in so regarding them. In any case the truth can only be arrived at by exhaustive enquiry throughout tho dairy districts, and that is the proceeding which wo want to see the Government adopt. Disputes as to facts can only be settled by carefully collecting and sifting evidence. A prima facie case against Beveral parents has, we take it, been fully established, and it now remains for the. Government to arrange for a searching investigation. Our contemporary's plea that the dairy industry is so profitable to the community and cannot in numberless instances be made to without childlabour, is surely no ueTbnce of parents who mar their children's future by overwork, and in doing so cause a waste of the public money expended on education. It is the future of our colony and race that should be our first consideration, not merely the convenience or even prosperity of the prcsont generation. If enquiries proved excesshe milking to be the practice in certain districts or families, the {u-onts of the dairy industry should not to allowed to weigh against legislation or other efforts to remedy the abuse. Again, in setting up a standard of measurement, it is not enough to bear in mind the ri«-k of "physical deterioration ;" mental progress must ulso bo kept m view. We trust that the Acting Premior w ; ll give thin subject his earnest und promp* consideration, nnd that if ho fails to r.ove in the mattor private members will bring it under the notice of Parliament at the earliest possible opportunity after the recess.