THE MAN ON THE LAND.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4445, 26 July 1922, Page 4

THE MAN ON THE LAND.

CLEANLINESS IN DAIRY IYORK. TESTIMONY TO NEW ZEALAND. Mr. F. G. E. Board writes to the “Western Mail,’’ Cardiff, relating some of his experiences in New Zealand, and in the course, of his communication says : I think I am safe in stating that for its size New Zealand is the first dairying country in the world, not excepting Denmark. She has attained that enviable position by strict attention, to the study of hygiene, and by, up-to-date metliods both in milking apd the transportation of milk to .the consumer. From the time the cows are assembled for milking to the time that the consumer receives the milk at his door cleanliness plays the biggest part of the process. Every farmer, whetner he milks for town supply, blitter, cheese, or for milk powder factoiy, is under the control of the following authorities: 1. In the case of town supply lie is under the control of the corporation, who have built a large clearing depot, where the suppliers’ stock-in-trade is thoroughly examined—horse, cart, cans, and milk. The discovery o’ the minutest sign of dirt is very strongly dealt with, and in bad cases reported to the corporation, and the supplier’s license is cancelled. 2. In the. case of butter factories etc., every dairy factory company, be it controlled by co-op&rative system or privately, employs its own staff of

inspectors, whose sole duty it is to visit and examine every supplier's shed. He does not let the farmer know when he is coming. If the shed is not as it should be it is a poor look-put for the supplier. For the first offence he is heavily fined, but if it occurs a second time his shed is condemned, and he is debarred iro n supplying the factory with milk until such time as the authorities think fit.

One does not see the milker washing his fingers in the milk before commencing a fresh cow, as one sees in some places. The first thing that, is done when the cows enter the sheds is to have their bags or udders washed thoroughly with warm water and a soft cloth, which induces them to release the milk directly the milking machine cups are attached to the teats.

One of the farmers at a recent' conference gave it as his opinion that it would cost top much to be clean, but I have never heard of clean water being expensive. Another, remark passed by a farmer was something about eating off the floors ; he also alluded to the sheds as “marble halls.” Now, if. this gentleman were to visit some of tlie sheds in New Zealand, where any number up to 150 cows are milked night and morning, 'he would find that the concrete floors would be quite clean enough to eat his dinner off, and the whole shed and its surroundings would be devoid of dirt. One does not see a manure heap within twenty chains of the shed, and this, of course minimises the presence of flies.