LAND OF THE COW.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 19 February 1913, Page 3

LAND OF THE COW.

FACTS ABOUT TARANAKI

A recent arrival from Taranaki told a Timaru reporter some interesting facts concernmg the dairying industry in that province, ." Solve the labour problem,,' he said, " and you will solve the future of Taranaki, As it is, men are making money,||especially the men who are adopting scentific methods and are not merely working for the money lender. Land values are high, and they will be higher. Sixty ponnds per acre is no uncommon price and if the present high prices of dairy produce are maintained, land values will ooutinue to iise.

But the great boubt in every man's mind is the labour problem. This year men can not be had for love or money— that is sufficient men. The farm labourers seem to have an incurable aversion to 'cow-spanking' and with plenty of work offering he simply won't mention cows. Two pounds per week and a bonus at the end of the season has been offered for men to work in sheds in which, machines are used, but in too many cases the offers go untouched.

"I know of a case where a young fellow inserted an advertisement for a job on a farm, and in response he received sheaves of replies ail offering the best of wagf>s. Many of them were sheep men, and needless to say the sheep men had the advantage. I know a boy of 19 who is receiving 30s per week on a sheep farm, so there is little wonder that the young fellows 'turn down' the milking game. The lack of labour means, of course, that many dairymen, to say nothing of their wives and families, have no more liberty during the season than would a slave. Many owners engage families to milk on the profit sharing system. These families make money— but, " significently added the visitor , "I would rather remain a poor man than work under such conditions. The work seems to exercise a painful influeuce upon them and they sink low in the human scale." Questioned as to the kind of season Taranaki is experiencing, the norther* ncr stated, that thpre was nothing to complain about. Before Christmas there had been a short dry spell which quickly showed its offect on the coutry (it would be quite burned up with a month's spell of dry weather), but rain had fallen and as usual the grass had revived almost immediately. " Four little hookers of about 100 tons" stated the visitor, "are taking cargoes of cheese from Patea the main outlet of the cheese trade, to WeiJ ing ton all the time, and still they can harbly cope with the traffic. Were Patea bar •» bound for any length of time, the railway would have to be used immediately te prevent a frightful congestion. Almost every boat that leaves Patea carries a cargoe of cheese and butter worth anything from £2000 to £3500, in fact, the value of- dairy produce taken over the Patea bar during eight' days some time ago, was assessed at £55 t 000." "That shows, " concluded the man from "cow-land " what Tarauaki is producing, but ensuse us labour and we will soon double the output."