DAIRY REGULATIONS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12429, 31 March 1908, Page 4

DAIRY REGULATIONS.

The letter which we publish in another column, and the Minister's reply thereto, concerning the dairy regulations, bear in themselves evidence of the fact that they are too Btringent, and this is practically admitted by the Minister', who states it will be found when the regulations come to be re-printed that a considerable number of the objections raised by the Rapanui dairymen have been met. The Government are to be commended for taking steps to protect the health of the community by ensuring for it a pure and wholesome ' milk supply, but the Department, in its commendable action, should be careful not to impose undue and unnecessary hardships on those engaged in the industry. There has, it must be admitted, been altogether too much laxity in connection with dairying, and it is high time the dirty, slip-shod practices adopted in some dairies gave place to more cleanly and up-to-date methods. But the Department must not expect to revolutioaise dairy methods in a few months. To give effect to all that the Department asks would spell ruin for many dairy farniera, and they must be given time to put their dairies m order. Further, some of the regulations are unnecessarily stringent for sparsely-populated districts. What regulations might be deemed necessary for a. dairy where there are a hundred or more cows would be altogether out of place where but three or foHr cows are. milked. It is just as necessary in the one case as the other that ordinary cleanliness should be observed, but to enforce certain regulations such as those referred to by the Rapanui dairymen on those engaged in a very small way would be to carry matters to an altogether unjustifiable extent. The health of the people must be the first consideration, but the purity of the milk supply can be ensured without putting unnecessary burdens on those engaged in the industry. The suggestion of the Minister that a Dairymen's Association should be formed is one that should appeal to the settlers at Rapanui, for by combined action they can do many things which otherwise they cannot accomplish. The Department has expressed its desire to meet the wishes of the dairymen as far as possible, and if | the inspectors and the settlers work together harmoniously the objects of the Department should be achieved without the regulations pressing unduly on those most concerned.