DAIRY SCHOOLS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 17 (Supplement)

DAIRY SCHOOLS

MOVEMENT 40 YEARS OLD. DIFFICULTY OVER LOCATION. With the rapid increase in dairying that marked the “middle nineties” the need for training of those engaged in manufacture of butter and cheese was evident. The first effort made was in 1895 when the Government conducted dairy schools at Edendale in the South Island and Stratford in the North Island. These were short courses held for approximately one month, in the winter times. “At the schools referred to,” states the director of the Dairy Division, Mr. W. M. Singleton, “the combined churn and butterworker was demonstrated for the first time in New Zealand. It was many years before it came into general use, the main point which justified its introduction being that it enabled the moisture content of butter to be controlled and increased. A special feature of the school at Stratford was the setting up and demonstrating of a Hall refrigerating machine.” In 1896 short-course dairy schools were again conducted. Edendale being again chosen for the South Island while the northern school was held at Waverley. In 1899 there was a strong agitation for a permanent dairy school and there was much bitter controversy as to where the school should be and what form it should take. The end of it was that the project was dropped. The voluntary testing for accuracy of milk and cream testing glassware was introduced in 1899, and in the next year dairy schools were held at Edendale and Inglewood. Ultimately the movement culminated in 1926 when the Massey Agricultural College was established. • j