THISTLEDOWN.

Te Aroha News, Volume XI, Issue 1715, 16 February 1895, Page 2

THISTLEDOWN.

“ A man may jest and tell the truth.” —Hobace.The creameries were very evidence all through Mr Cadman’s visit to his electorate, and the suppliers, so far at least as represented by their spokesmen, appear to have been unanimous in their wish for the appointment of a Government Inspector to check the factory tests. There is, no doubt, great danger that a promising industry may bo ruined by the dissatisfaction at present prevailing, and on first principles there is just as much reason for the appointment of such an officer as for numbers of other such appointments. Personally, however, I am strongly adverse to this constant multiplication of Government billets, which, if increased in the present ratio, will soon result in one half the people of New Zealand being spies on the other half, and is calculated to tako all moral backbone out of us and make us a mongrel cross between the sneak and the pauper. It seems to be far preferable to accept either of the alternative offers of the companies, either to have a testing officer appointed and paid in common by the firm and the suppliers, or for the latter to appoint and. pay a competent person to check the official tests. It would not be necessary to have a separate man at each creamery, they might easily be worked in groups of two, three or more. Of course, Mr Cadinan’s suggestion to make the creameries co-operative is the best possible solution of all difficulties.

That there'is something radically wrong in at any rate individual cases is indisputable. A friend of mine with 20 cows fell from 3‘4 and 3 6 in November to 2’4 —2*B in December, rising again in the end of January to 3, and now stands at 36. He took- samples of each > cow’s milk, which the creamery manager kindly tested with the result of an average of 3 - 8, only one cow falling below 3, and several being above 4, one reaching 4 - 6. In his case there is a possible explanation. The carter was detected filling up the skim milk cans with swamp water which nearly killed six valuable calves and it is just possible that the night’s milk which was under the same man’s charge may have been similarly doctored. There would be a motive for this, whereas it is difficult to see any for the other. That the mode of tak--ing the sample is the keystone of the test has always been my opinion, and is strongly confirmed by the case of Mr Murphy, of Tamahere, whose samples taken by himself and analysed by Mr Pond, gave one per cent better results than the creamery tests, while samples taken by the Government Inspector, and also analysed by Mr Pond, gave practically the creamery Possibly, too, some analyses may be too hurriedly done without a sufficient number of revolutions. ■» * ■» *

While my sympathies are decidedly with the suppliers, I must, however, strongly protest against the tone of some of them, who impute deliberate fraud to the companies, and talk, as I have heard one man, of Mr Reynolds’trips out and homo being provided for out of the suppliers’ reduced percentages.' .. Such language will ..only alienate outside sympathy, and is mentioned here only on the principle that plain speaking is better than covert insinuations, for * suspicions are like bats among birds, they ever fly by twilight/ and the .. man who scatters them is like the devil or. ‘ the enviou smart who neighbour’s wheat.' Like hidden ulcers their virulence is gone once they are discovered. While on the dairy subject, it might be as well to remind farmers of the necessity of restoring to their pastures by bones and superphosphrate, the phosphate of lime so largely abstracted in the milk. The Cheshire cheese bumness was nearly ruined by neglect of this. Q O © ®

I noticed, by the way, an inconsistency among some who were anxious for a Government Inspector, yet objected to the utilisation of the policeman for choosing men for co-operative works. An inspector is, I consider, at least as black a devil as a policeman. The latter’s main business is to prevent not to detect crime, and he ought to be a welcome visitor to all honest citizensIt has been the general policy of late years, both here and at home, to utilise policemen for various duties outside their special Sphere, as this is found to increase their usefulness as protectors against crime by increasing their acquaintance with their district and the general sympathy with them. The last few years they have also taken a leading part in most large eities at home in schemes for the relief of the poor, clothing of destitute children, and similar social reforms, greatly to the advantage both of chan&ble organisation and of strict police work. r o© . ° °

Mr Cadman, in his speech, foreshadowed a further development of what is known as labour legislation. The Premier, however, does not appear enthusiastic in the matter. He is the only Minister who takes opportunity on occasion to lecture the labouring classes The boiler makers of Wellington wanted, the other day, among other things, increased protection, restriction of boy labour by an Apprentices Act, and Government employment. He refused the first ortho o-round that Government must look to the interests of the country, not, of a class, a statement which will be received by journals of the Herald typo with incredulous interest aa another link in the identification of the Premier with Ananias, on tho second question he feared further labour legislation might lead to a reaction, and in answer to the third demand he told them straight that a man m this country cannot depend solely on his trade but must be prepared to tackle any job he can get. He even demurred to putting a clause m Government contracts enforcing the ruling rate of wages. He might have swallowed this last gnat as the London County Council, as well as many other, similar bodies at homo, have long since adopted this rule. It would at least show a more genuine interest in labour than tho Shop Assistants Act for instance. * 9 * *

Mr Reeves has since, however, made a speech full of fight, in which he threatens to resign the Ministry of Labour and to pursue his aims as a private member, if not allowed by hie party, no word of his leader, to continue his work and introduce among other measures the Apprentices Act his chief refused. Next session will show which is in earnest, whether Seddon is to be bos3 and Reeves Jonah, or the former will knuckle down to the Socialist champion, o

I am glad to see the Rev Mr Evans taking apart, and such a successful part too, n local shooting. It is too much the cusof the churches to anathematize all tom ompn ts The theatre, music halls, amusements suce essfully boycotted, fS '.l. Wesley, the Jw of our hymn writers bar his brother Varies who re/used to leave the Devil the Of good tunes, but modern Evan- “ 3 Christanity appears to think that Black Prince has a monopoly of amuse-

ments. Those clergymen are most successful who take an interest and active part in the sports of the young and pace Mrs Aldis, volunteering is by no means diabolical, but a valuable aid to both physical and moral education. The surest way of converting all recreation into damnation is for ‘ the good ’ to hold aloof and leave it to those who are virtually staniped as unchristian and unimoral by participation therein. * # # # Mr Cadman, I am glad to Say, confirmed the opinion not long since expressed in the editorial columns, that Te Aroha has no reason to fear any permanent injury fron»__ the opening of the Rotorua railway. InW\ continuation of the editor’s advice to deve- \ lope the eans.tory'besources of the place, I would to “"he local authorities the advisability of loaning ahead and securing as soon as possible, while we have a friend in the Ministry, sites for hospital cottages, convalescent homes, etc. As my space is about exhausted, I shall reserve this subject for another occasion. laptx.