VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1934, Page 7

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS NEWS’ DAIRYING SUPPLEMENT. COMMENTS BY A CORRESPONDENT. (To the Editor.) Sir,—No one can better appreciate than I the immense amount of work involved in the compilation and production by you and your staff of the dairying supplement circulated with your Tuesday’s issue. It is’ an admirable and, as far as I am able to judge, a correct and comprehensive story of the genesis and development of the industry in Taranaki. I was, however, disappointed to find no reference in it to the work of the late Mr. W. K. Hulke in that connection. To my mind Mr. Hulke was the real pioneer of modem dairying in this district, both by precept and by practice. Well over 60 years ago he contributed to the local press a long series of articles on dairying, dealing with both the practical and scientific sides, and continually urging the suitability of the soil and climate of Taranaki for that branch of farming. He wrote about milk production and its handling and manufacture, of testing and separating, and other features then quite unknown here. On the practical side he set up a small model dairy on his property at the corner of Eliot and Pendarves Streets and, if I mistake not, was the first to introduce the ( Jersey breed here. If not the first he at any rate later established at his little farm at Henwood Road a herd which furnished foundation stock for some of the best Jersey herds in the district, and beyond it. No history of the industry is quite complete without some reference to the part Mr. Hulke took in its earliest days. Another pioneer of the industry was the late Mr. James Baxter Connett, father of Mr. John Snell Connett, who, after carrying on his father’s good work for many years, died a little while ago. Mr. Connett, senr., was probably one of the first farmers in the district to dairy on a fairly large scale,. _nd-he was very progressive. He is entitled to mention, I think, as the first to" introduce a milking machine to Taranaki. I forget the year, but it was a machine invented by a Canterbury farmer named Withell. was not quite a success, and was discarded before it had been long in operation, but my point is that it was a pioneer effort, and led others to think about machine milking.—l am, etc., , W. J. PENN. New Plymouth, Sept 11. WOMEN’S REST ROOM. (To the Editor.) ’ Sir,—l notice a report of a New Plymouth meeting in which it is remarked that the town is badly in need of a women’s rest room. It is perhaps not generally known that the Women’s Division has a rest room attached to the W.D. shop, next to Nolan’s mart. This is open, free, to all women and children, and though Somewhat smaller than a municipal room would probably- be, may serve the public quite adequately‘until such time as the borough council has made its arrangements.—l am, etc., < HELEN HARRIS, ’ Pres, N. Taranaki W.D.F.U. Oakura, Sept. 11. TREATMENT OF FARM HANDS. , (To the Editor,)

Sir,—To recent letters published in your paper regarding the' treatment of farm hands by their employers I would like to add that if farmers treated their men as a human being should be treated I do not think there would be any complaints. I am a farm hand, and have held my position for the past six years, with not a single complaint against the position. But I have seen many cases worthy of complaint. I have often heard of farm jobs available in the district, and have then seen the farmer hurrying by car to make an interview, and arranging to meet a new employee by car at the nearest bus stop. Perhaps the employee suits for a few months; then he is not required, and receives a week’s notice. Time and time again I have , passed the employee carrying his belongings off the job the best way he can. I say that if a man is good enough to be met when he takes up his position he is good enough to convey back again after he has finished, even if in a dray, to the nearest bus conveyance. I have seen three men leave employment, and all of them received good treatment. They have had the same conveyance off the job as going to the job. I think it is the kind of case mentioned, which ’is infrequent, that makes farm hands complain of their positions.—l am, etc., SQUARE DEAL Rahotu, Sept. 10.