The Dairy Expert

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 156, 2 August 1888, Page 2

The Dairy Expert

Ye steeday afternoon we were waited upon by a dairy farmer from the Kiwitea, who represented a number of other farmers in that direction, to inquire as to the whereabouts of the Dairy Expert who had been appointed by the Government to give lectures. We were unable to give the desired information then, but have since learned that the " lecturer" had been heard of in Sandon and Campbelltown. Further traces of him were lost until later in the day, when our amiable contemporary, the Advocate, came to hand, from which source we gathered that "Mr McAllum, Government lecturer on Dairying, attended at Marton on Tuesday to have a chat with the farmers, but as he found that his services were not appreciated, he went on to Wanganui." We presume he did not visit Feildinir, and its suburbs, for fear "he wouid not be appreciated," We do not hesitate to say that this appointment by the Government of an •* expert" at a bigh salary, with heavy travelling expenses, to do nothing in return, is a piece of rank absurdity. If the man knows his business, and has a •" lecture" to give, he should have called the farmers together in the ordinary way by giving public notice of the fact. Had he been a Detective police officer travelling on official business, he would have had his movements telegraphed all over the colony by the Press Association. He, on thf contrary, whose movements are of public interest, appears to have given the press and the press agents a wide berth. If extreme modesty is a proof of talent, Mr McAllum should *• take the cake."