STRATFORD DAY BY DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 344, 21 March 1910, Page 8

STRATFORD DAY BY DAY.

(From Our Resident Correspondent.) STIIATFOiID A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. Stratford, March ib. The Stratford A. mid P. Association lias now become ati established i'uct. From all appearances it promises to oe come hi tins no distant iuture a vei-y strong society, numerically and owwise. At a meeting held to-day for the purpose of adoption of rules and the election of ollicers ( there was an attendance of between fifty and sixty members, principally farmers. ilie Major (Mr G. Sangster) was in _ the chair, and after outlining tlie objects of the meeting congratulated the pro-, moters on the succes's that had attended their efforts. Nearly 300 members had joined, and this he considered very excellent progress for tlie short period the association had been in existence. Tiie rules, which were practically a. copy of the New Plymouth Society's, were read and adopted. In thes'e the subscription was fixed at £1 Is. Mr Kennedy asked if the rules were wide enough to take in home industries and school classes.

The chairman replied in the affirmativ«. Mr J. Thomas said he would like to hear an expression of opinion on the matter of whether tlie Association should take stcips .to have dairy cows tested. Tlie chairman said this would rest with the .committee. Mr Thomas, in moving that this b# an instruction to the committee, said that it was) a very important matter to the dairy farmers, and he was confident, if put in force, it would lead to an increase in the output of «. Child in a very short time. Mr H. P. Webber seconded the resolution.

Mr Tlionm, considered that the' Association should sent out a competent man, and members who availed themselves of his services should pay a small fee. He had been dairying lor thirty years, and some time hack went to a farmer who tested herd to purchase stock. He did not get a pedigree, but he found that one result was that'his output increased 33 per cent. New Zealand was mery much in uie same position as Ontario many years ago. That (province was: then Ibacki waTd and had not realised the advantages it possessed as a fruit-growing country. To-day it was all altered, and Ontario was at the top of the tree. But this success' had only been accomplished by cultivation on scientific lines. XW Zealand had the country, the climate, and the men for dairying, but science was needed. They should do. nothing but talk cows, test cows, -nd sell rows, concluded the speaker amid; some laughter, which was increased in: one part of the room when a member su.2ge.sted "and eat cows" should ue added. 4 ' Mr J. Smith, whilst agreeing with Mr Thomas, thought that there was something more than cows—there was the machine. He had onee got a very high test, hut lie found out afterwards' it°was the machine that was res.pon-j sible, and like the old woman's clocK J t wanted boiling down. No{ only had; they to look after the culling, but the men who were in charge of the ma-! chine.

The election of officers resulted as follows: —President. Mr R. Dingle; viccv,residents, Messrs J. B. Hine, M.P., G. A. Marrhant. W. A. McTlutcheon, G. S:\rg<ter: co.mmit.tee, Messrs J. Thomas, R. McK. Morrison, J. T. Belcher, W. IT. Young, W. M. Kennedy. W. Bicliards. E. A. Osmond, F. Vosper. F. W. Walters, S. H. James, S. M. Perrrtt, W. Watkins, J. Smith, W. B. Harkness, W. IT. Weir. J. II Healy. A. Faull, T. A. Lees' T. WeM>, .H. J. Richmond, W. P. Kirk wood, W. SayweU, H. B. Webber. K. Jackson.

In taking the chair, Mr Dinff'e thanked tlio members for the honour thcv had conferred on him. Ho was i-.atisfird that thev had only touch i on the fringe of their supporters, and that when a systematic canvass was made thcv would they could get a thousand members'. Votes of thanks to the Mavor and the provisional committee brought the meeting to a close. The Farmers' Dairy class in connection with the Stratford Technical School commenced lessons last night, when there was an attendance of Tt seems a curious fact that rarely adult classes in dairying science met with the support they are entitled to. The experience, in many centres vas been that the young farmer will nor, attend. There is a great deal of talk at meetings of the Farmers'' Union, A. and P. Associations and kindred institutions, of what should he done, but when the advantages are brought within reach of the farming community it will not benefit by them.

Tf the newlv formed A. and P. Association can succeed in giving effect to the ideas set forward by Mr Thomas', they will have accomplished a very <?reat thing for the farmers of the district. It is strange to compare the ps'st and the present. A few years hack Mr Gilmuth visited StratfonT to lecture on this subject, aud about a dozen people turned up to lis'tea to him, of which number about half were townspeople, who were dragged in to occupy a few of tihe many empty seats. Is it an omen that the farmer has awoke to the importance of the matter Swimming proficiency tests were held at the school baths yesterday, with tli» result that the following pupils' secured certificates: —Quarter-mile Handicap, K. Lawrence, E. Black, V. Hannah, A. Wall, C. Kivell, W. Kivell, IW. Bradlow, U. Hunter, C. Hunter, W. Birdeall, G. Robson. L.Auld, Millie Curtis, Irene Small. (100 yds: J. Anderson, B. Wake. Half-' mile: C. W. Kremmer, J. Hogg. Mile: C'hrissio Law. Mile and a quarter: Minnie Ilighnett.