WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13857, 18 April 1917, Page 8

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE.

A QUESTION OF TO-DAY.

(M.H.U. in the Wellington Fost.)

News conns from practiefilly all of the world of Hie entrance of women into agriculture in all its branches—field, dairy, garden, etc.—and in NewZealand it appears that efficient women would be welcomed as 'helpers on farms and stations, But before efficiency can. be readied, and women can take such work with a reasonable hope of success, there is much to be done. A glance at what has boon done in other countries is most interesting. Germany apparently realised long ago that to organise and train women as well as men was to make the country well-nigh invulnerable. To improve homes, an association was formed in Baden'and numbered 50,000' members in a short time. The same in Vienna. Rural and country schools for inslruc- j tion, well equipped and attended,, aro i established all over the German and Austrian Empires. Farmers and their wives meet in conference regularly, and discuss results of experiments, and educational lectures are given at these meetings by experts. These and the schools and agricultural and technical colleges, with all necessary laboratories and equipment, are provided by the Government, and the result lias been that the growing of cereals, potatoes, etc,, has been brought to a fine art. Home-making in Germany, up to a certain point, was given the greatest encouragement, but where it failed has been due to the domestic customs which prevail, and which are a cause of weakness in a wonderful machinery. What. British household could only one or two "washing days" a year, while the body and bed linen, after use, would he hung in closed cupboards for Or what British child could stand being brought up on raw ham, pork, beef, fish, vegetables, and strong coft'ec? A terrible diet, and one which accounts for much typhoid, diphtheria, etc. So Germany has still something to learn. In Belgium, before the war, there were considerably over a million agricultural workers, and of these 514,914 were women, Tlio agricultural training provided for boys was good, but very little was provided for the girls, and the consequence was the [rend of the female population to towns for clerical and factory work. It was realised by the Government that this was against the interests of the conn-' try, so that (here were twenty permanent agricultural schools and eleven travelling schools at work in Belgium in a very short time,

France has a great organisation fi instruction in farm wovlt and agvici tare, as well as in all branches i home-making. The programme of ed cation organised by the Society Agriculture of Franco is a wonder! one. It comprises education in all hon work, domestic economy, matcrn teaching, care of sick and injured, cu ting out, mending, washing, ironin ets., and house, farm, garden, and fiel work are all fully treated also. Net erlauds Scandinavia, Russia, and Swil erland all have similar institutions an leagues, and Canada has a tremendoi and much-detailed plan of instructio: lectures, travelling experts, and labor: tories, In Britain, the instruction i agriculture and dairy work is incrcn ing, There are now several college for "women subsidised by the Board ( Agriculture, while courses of five an twelve weeks have been arranged, i dairy Vhools. and at. Preston there a speci'il course'for butler and cliera* in'lulu, out of eighlv seven!,' two were women. 'A Women's Agr cultural Society was formed in Londo aa far back as 1803, showing that fhei were some who realised-the important of encouraging women to (it- thomselvc for country life. ,

. 'f Carrier pigeons, play a., very, important part iii tlie intelligence system of- .the ■ arinios '-fighting in' the Jiqid. They can be-seen flying to and fro almost evory tidy between the two lines" said Lieutenant Morton to' ft Hcirtld reporter jecently.; "Oidera were giveff^uQt'-:to; firo at

There is an enormous difforenco boiiveen " understanding" nwl oAVient work ami that 'which is "picked up" from jierliaps a most inadequate instnintov, who lias bad or. ignorant methods. If women are going to be happy and ■ successful in agricultural occupations, they must first have an opportunity to train for them, and to gradually harden their constitutions so that they ( can copo with out-of-door work in all methods. Tliero are many girls in town who have a tl'UO lovo of the country—a holiday visit to a

station or farm is 11 joy to them. They are interests in all they boc, and have a "way" with the animals, and if encouraged and taught would make splendid country developers. But to send them up as raw material is to invite failure and disappointment. ; Another question that arises ill New.Zealand is the housing of prospective farm or garden women, If they arc taught tlieir business so that they are capable and intelligent, it would bo necessary to find out and regulate wages and 'accommodation. Stringent laws govern the comfort and well-being of shearers, and if agricultural women are going to be . a success in the Dominion' these, •matters must receive attention, The first ■ necessity is proper scientific instruction on a "collegiate farm," the next,a wise selection'and supervision of candidates,- atid the third legislation governing wages and housing. Mt is quite probable that ft marked improvement in health and physique would -result, if a large section . .pf: women took to country life. "Eai'ly. to bed and early to rise" is an. ideal; condition'for''health', ami'if combined with cultivated intelligence and continual improvement in education methods, should prove" a valuable • asset to the future wives and- mothers of the 'nation, • ; : '5 .