The Country-Womans Corner

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 14

The Country-Womans Corner

By

Jean

(Special for the Otago Witness.)

The boy or girl of 11 plus is an individual who is rapidly acquiring an outlook on life which must be met along different paths, and the best teachers will not always be book learned. Travelling down from the north with recollections of the excitement caused by our visit to the motor ship, we were again reminded of our seafaring acquaintances and associations when we heard accounts of fun and frolic provided for the children by the -crew of a visiting battleship. One of the first excursions many of us remember was the trip to town to see “ our own cruiser.” Spring time is too full of interesting things to go away to the city and leave the care of the garden and the farm to others. The country child is proud to show off his knowledge, and even the smallest ones are delighted when they can prove to their town cousins that calves are not born with their eyes closed like kittens and puppies. Those interested in farm education were pleased when it was announced last December that the Government had decided to institute a junior farmer scheme on lines similar to those planned in connection with ' public school and army and navy repatriation schemes. This new scheme is under the control of the Immigration Department. So far, little enthusiasm has been shown, but it may be that it is because the scheme has not been sufficiently advertised and made known to farmers and the lads who are anxious to take up farming. Commenting on the advantages of the junior farmer scheme a well-known authority says: “ Farming to-day still offers greater freedom and greater satisfaction than the majority of city occupations. The farmer must work hard and has a lifelong battle with the elements, but his time is his own, and provided he has bought right, he has a certain independence as the result of his work. Very few farmers would change places with city workers. Even though they may grouse about long hours and hard work, they realise their work is carried on outdoors and that alone compensates for a great many of the trials of farming.”

In this corner we have noted with satisfaction that Indian natives are going in for dairying. We have wished that our Maori brothers and sisters might do likewise, and there is abundant evidence that this is the case. Tourists complain that they miss the picturesque groups of Maoris who used to be seen squatting on the railway stations, chattering and laughing and smoking. But we are told that those old Maoris have mostly passed away or have gone to spend their declining years in some out-of-the-way pa, while the young generation are busily employed in dairying. The Maori lads have proved themselves willing and capable workers. From time to time we hear complaints of the accommodation provided for farm lads, but those farms that have been in the habit of employing young Maoris, and the larger holdings to which Australian station holders have sent their sons to be trained in New Zealand methods, have never had any complaints made of them either of the accommodation or the relationship between the farmer and the boys. On the contrary, many an out-of-the-way homestead is brightened with these young spirits, who are always willing to do their share of the work either inside or out.

“ The weakness of the present scheme lies in the inalJility of those in charge to tell the boys definitely " that certain opportunities to take up land on favourable terms awaits them on the completion of their training.” This cry of land hunger is being heard on - all sides. Our several governments have been blamed for not having evolved a fixed land policy, but in this matter we go forward in faith and do our utmost to encourage our boys to w’ork on the land, to receive instruction from their employers, to ~ave their money, and to cultivate a taste for good reading. We feel certain that there will not lack men and women who will see that these lads are provided with land when the time comes for them to launch out on their own account. For this reason we should elect such men and women to the charge of our public affairs, and this aim must be kept in view when choosing candidates for the control of all departments of administration. “If we hope to see our public affairs handled successfully—and not disastrously—we must strive to place their conduct in the hands of men possessed of character and intelligence; men capable of understanding existing conditions —often new conditions—and the emergent outlook, aspirations, and ideals.”

THE COUNTRY. GIRLS’ CONCERNS. . > Our flower duties in church work do a great deal to link us up with other parts of the country. Many a church in the south is brightened with flowers

from the north, or a frosty inland district receives boxes and car loads of blossoms, which give beauty and inspiration to church services and are afterwards distributed to members. While we love and attend to our young farm animals we should take care that they are not handled or made much of in such a way that they are spoilt. Many a tragedy-has been brought about by making too much fuss of young stock. A little judicious handling is necessary. Calves that are intended to be taken to the show should be trained to lead, so that there may be no trouble with them when they are paraded for exhibition. Those farmers which carry pedigree stock are now under close observation by those who are booking, stud animals. But the humble cottage cow is just as much loved and appreciated as the wealthy owner’s animal with her photograph in the papers and her records advertised.

In the histories they’ll be making, they’ve, a right to put her name With the horse of Troy and Ossian’s hounds and other beasts of fame ; And the painters will be painting her beneath the hawthorn bough, Where she’s grazing on the sweet green grass, my little Kerry cow.