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Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 3, 4 July 1939, Page 10

MORE CONTENTED

YOUNG FARMERS RETURN

NEW SOUTH WALES

BACKWARD

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) j y . NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. \ Although loud, in praise of the warm hospitality of the Australians the South Taranaki young farmers who spent a month, touring • farming districts in New South Wales have returned to New Zealand more content than ever before with farming conditions in the Dominion and the standard of farm life generally. , According to •..*. Mr. :J. E. Davies, manager of the party, they commenced as. South Taranaki: tourists but were soon l'egarded, as; representing NewZealand-: New Zealanders are held in exceptionally^ high esteem in Australia and are looked upon as excellent farmers,, he said. Dairying was .definitely more advanced in New Zealand than in Australia.: It was found in the central and northern districts of New South Wales that only.about 10 per cent, of farmers milked with milking machines. Many farmers milked , herds of 75 cows by hand. In the main, farmers supplied milk for Sydney household distribution,-- the surplus-milk being made into butter. >' The Australian farmers were definitely more stock-minded than grass-mind-ed, said Mr. Davies. A great' section of the farming community spoke of production per beast and not production per acre in regard to their stock. They were - exceptionally show-minded. Thefe was no agricultural workers' award or specified hours. The average j farm hand received from 15s to £1 per week- and Ms keep. The standard of! the homesteads could not be compared with those in New Zealand. The surroundings of many homes were drab and there was not' the same air of settlement as' in New Zealand; Many j of the 'farm houses seemed almost like! temporary places :of abode. ' - j