WOMEN AND AGRICULTURE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 146, 15 March 1919, Page 4

WOMEN AND AGRICULTURE

NEW ZEALAND LAGGING BEHIND.

(By "Vox.") The question of agricultural trainingfor women in New Zealand is revived from timo to time, and then, except by the few who keep its ultimate success be.foro them as a goal to strive for, it is allowed to drop. And yet' New Zealand is primarily a producing country, and someone is constantly deploring tlio drnt to the towns of rural population. Of 001 it so there is a drift to the towns I Tliore is no provision in this country for tho professional education of country women, or any women, for country lilo. And yet to the country mother belong flic most impressionable years of her children. She is. tho one who can, if she will, inculcate in them tho love for rural life. But she herself must first be trained to feel it, to realise tho joy of doing expert work in an expert way, instead of just muddling along. Before the war, Britain had two famous institutions devoted to tho training of women in agricnlturo—the Swanley Agricultural and Horticultural Collego, Kent, and one at Studley, Warwickshire. Since the outbreak of tho war eight more such schools have beon established in order to copo with the demand for training. -Even 110W applications for admission have to be in months ahead, so that doubtless more schools will ho included in'tho echoine .of reconstruction. The women who had received training wore of tremendous •value to their country when war broke out, but as there wore not nearly enough of them to satisfy tho demand, groups of girls were given eight weeks' emergency training to enablo thorn to perform wlmt one might term the first duties of farm routine. This training was given to a great extent in privnte farms and orohards. Before tho ,wnr Franco was engaged in active propaganda to prevent tho depopulation of the rural districts. A very interesting account of what was being 'done is to be -found in "Woman's Place in Rural Economy," .by .P. de Vuyst, Director-General of Agriculture in Belgium, a, country which has probably gone in more fox intensive agriculture than any other. France has the Agricultural Institute of Jeanne d Arc (for women), and many other projects which will most certainly be successfully carried on now that the enemy is banished from her borders. The Netherlands and Scandinavia have a special school. Even Russia, whom we regard as being of the Middle Ages, has beaten us 111 this respect. Poland has several prosperous schools of rural domestic economy. As lorn? a?o as 19Cfi Switzerland ojioned at Niederlenz a most valuable agricultural college for women. Tho United States has women's institutes in at least nineteen States, and 111 [ almost every other State public instruction is given to wo ; men under the auspices of the Fanners Institute. . Canada has accomplished much in this professional'training of its women. M. de Vuyst quotes Mr. C. C. James, Deputy Minister for Agriculture at Toronto, as saying, apropos of fanning: "It has been' discovered that the farmer possesses a wife .... and for the first time, I boliove, since the beginning of civilisation, the farmer's • wife is to be considered from an educational and. scientific point of view." To come nearer home, look what Australia is doing.. The Cowra Training Farm for Girls is a flourishing State institution, which has been running for about threo years, and is quite a paying venture, although the fees are low. Girls are trained in every branch of farm work; they do tho work and the produce is marketable, hence its financial success. The training is domestic as well as agricultural. The students do all the work usually done by a farmer's wife. They look after bees, poultry, and fruit tree's. They make preserves, 1 beverages, bread and butter, cook generally, wash, bleach, and. iron clothes, and can acquire a certificate of competency after two years of study. In Victoria there is the Burnley School, which was set up bi the Agricultural Department, and in which women can qualify in any branch of agricultural work. After a two years' course a certificate of competency may b© obtained. Tho whole plan of work is carried out on strictly scientific and utilitarian lines; And New Zealand? ' New Zealand grudgingly permits women to study at the Government Apiary, near Auckland. Sho makes certain provision -for the comfort and well-being of the male students, but although they pay the same fees, none for women. Is it not time we. roused ourselves a little and got more into line with what is being done in other parts of the civilised world? Spain, and Portugal have set up similar institutions to those of Belgium, which nro wonderfully efficient, although Belgium considers herself as merely beginning. Beforo the war Belgium had 514,914 women emplovcd in agricultural work. Of how thoy farmed whilst their men were; fighting for .freedom, our soldiers can. tell us a little. Whv does the Now Zoaland Government gnulge this excellent training to our women? They (the members of the GovI ernment) constantly oxtol the ability and 'capabilities of their womenfolk; they appear to bo lost in admiration of what women havo accomplished during the war, nhd yet they will not move in, the matter of training fc/r efficiency in> what is acknowledged in 'almost every country as an important branch of useful and legitimate work foij women.

There is only one way to remove superfluous hair permanently-and that is by Electrolysis. When skilfully done this treatment is. almost painless. Mrs. Rolleston qualified in London, Paris, and Amorica, and has been most successful in' all case!/ sho has undertaken. Fee, 10s. per Treatment. Mrs. Rolleston, 2oG Lainbton Qimy.-Advt.

Stop hair falling and start a new healthy growth. Miss Milsom declares such can bo accomplished in one week. Firstly 0110 scientific treatment at her rooms. Secondly, hair cropped m severe cases not shaved. Thirdly, apply special Hair Food and Tonic. Used as directed the result, will astound you.. Miss Milsom. Hair and Face Specialist, 94 AVillis Street 'Phone 814.-Advt.

Superfluous Hair Removed Instantly."Rusma," tho registered and guaranteed Superfluous Hair, destroyer, will render vour skin clear and smooth after tho initi«l application. No . a ter-marks-posttivoly tho most olficacious and lastin' treatment known to science. Cal for free personal treatment Mrs Ilullen, Beantvl Specialist, Dept. D., Courtenay Place "Tram Tormmus. Phone 1041 — Advt.

As a birthday remembrance one of our baskets or posies of beautiful flowersf Will convev more sentimont than anything else one could give. Miss \ ice Bcal Florist, Willis Street, AYclhngton. —Advt'.

All parents are hereby cordially requested to encourage Stationers and ,Storekeepers to push the saio of "Thinker" Brand Writing Tablets and "Thinker" School Exercise Books for tho nation's good.—Bannatvne and Hunter, Ltd., wholesalo age'nts for tho "Thinker." —Advt.

On and after March IS our business will be carried 011 in new premises, No. 234 Lambton Quay, opposite tlio Economic. There will be. a window display of smaft ready-made costuiuas and exclusive American blouses, in the most delicate 'shades in wholo colour and two tone effects iu Georgette, with beaded and embroidery trimming; also American fur neoldets in smoko fox, (lying sable, fitch, and squirrell. A. J. Co email, I flics tajlor and furrier, Customhouse Quay.— Advt.