THE FARM

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13643, 24 November 1917, Page 2

THE FARM

AGRICULTURAL EVENTS FOR WEEK ENDING DEC. Ist. MONDAY. Cambridge Stock Sale. Hikutaia Stock Sale. Clearing Sale at Te Aroha. TUESDAY. Morrinsville Stock Sale. Taumaiunui Stock Sales. Te Puke Stock Sale. WEDNESDAY. Tirau r 't'.>ck Sale. Waing.ro Stock Sales. Te Aroha Stock Sale. THURSDAY. lblP"' ,»• i • V-fv .Silos. Pio Pio Stock Sale. Clearing Sale ,»t Matamata. Ff > i DAY. Nirarua vahia Si ovk Sale. Matiore Stock Sale. SATURDAY. Te Awamutu Stock Sale. Clearing Sale at Eureka. BOYS FOR FARM WORK A READY RESPONSE. The National Efficiency Board has for some time had under consideration a scheme for the utilisation of the labour of the senior boys from the secondary and other schools of the Dominion during the summer vacation for work in the country districts, in order to assist farmers with their harvesting, shearing and other operations for which, owing to the present war conditions, there may be a - shortage of adult labour. With this object in view the various school authorities were communicated with, and most encouraging replies werer. received from a large number of governing bodies and principals, in the course of which the fact was disclosed ihat last year very material assistance was _ given by the schoolboys in connection with farm work It is hoped that the movement will be extended <i.uring the coming season. Lists of boys of suitable physique and age have been compiled, Hamilton being well represented 1 : These lists have been forwarded to the local Board of Trustees, with whom farmers requiring labour are requested to communicate. The Board of Trustees must satisfy themselves that the places to which the !>oys are allocated are suitable for town boys, that the character of the people with whom they are placed is such that 'be boys will be well treated and looked after, and that provision is made for the payment of suitable remuneration proportionate to the work done by the lads. "

DAMAGE TO D'IRY HERD IMPORTANT JUDGMENT. MILKING MACHINE COMPANY HELD LIABLE. Judgment was delivered in the Supreme Court, Auckland on Wednesday, by Mr Justice Cooper, in the case of Samuel Keam and others, carrying on business at Welcome Bay, Tauranga. as S. Keam and Sons, farmers, y. the Farmers' Milking Machine Company, Ltd.. of Auckland. The case was heard in August last. Plaintiffs, in their statement of claim, said that in July, 1916, they contracted to buy a milking machine and accessories from the defendant company for £145.- The_ machine was represented as containing the latest improvements, but the plaintiffs alleged that it was unsatisfactory and that it had caused great damage to their herd. They asked for £176 damages for injury sustained by 44 cows; £l3£ 5s for the loss of approximately 17901b of butter-fat; £lB 13s for the Toss of skimmed miflc; and £IOO for lost time, making a total claim of £428 18s. The defendant company denied that the cows had suffered damage by re? pon of the use of the milking machine, and contended that plaintiffs had » >t followed out the directions as to the <'se of the machine, and that the he'd was suffering from contagious mam nltis. After an elaborate review ,f Ihe evidence the Judge said he had found it proved that tne milking machine in question was defective in mnuf r.ture and badly installed; that the defects were never entirely remedied by the defendants; that the plaintiffs had worked the machine properly; that ♦iie cows up to the time that they were bilked by means of the machine* were a nrcHhy herd ,and that none of them Lad suffered from contagious mammitis. Judgment was given for plaintiffs for £IOO in respect of damage done to herd, £l5O in respect of the loss of butter-fat and skimmed milk, and £23 in respect of loss of time, making a total award to plaintiffs of £273. Costs were allowed on the middle scale. His Honor emphasised the fact that it was not disputed that the type of milking machine in question was an effective machine, but the complaint was that the one particular machine was unsatisfactory.