FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1916, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

TIIE LABOR DIFFICULTY Li dealing with the report ami balancesheet at tile annual meeting of the Elthnm Dairy Company, the chairman, Mr. H. D. Forsyth, briefly mentioned that although the past season had been a record in the history of the company regarding supply of mill; and pay-ont. some of the suppliers had reduced the size of their herds. This, he stated, was necessary owing to the absence of labor. The statement was substantially correct, and was probably unnoticed by many, as it elicited no comemnt. One of the' 'lirectors, Mr. Linn, informed the writer that the main reason ivhy he placed tho fine purebred Jersey herd he posesseel under the auctioneer's hammer recently was mainly through the labor difficulty. Two of his sons are at the front, and, afraid that the cattle would not receive the attention necessary, he had to let them go. Mr. Linn will continue in the dairying industry, but with grade cattle. We all deplore the necessity for sending men out of the Dominion, but whilst tlie present conditions continue farmers and others must rub along as best they can. Yet, despite the inroads made on the Dominion's male population, there aro many hundreds of young men to be found in the cities who would \ndoubtedly be better oil' if they had o spell at country work. So far the curtailing of the size of dairy herds is scarcely apparent, but as the season advances and the contingents mount up. the difficulty will become more noticeable. The "out-of-work" individual should be a rarity, but if one visits any large town in the Dominion he will find no difficulty in sorting out the "no-'work-between-mcaU'' fraternity. It would be an excellent move for our Covcrnmcut now they have decided on conscripted soldiers, if they were to go a little further and conscript the idler. Many a man now in the ranks has found the physical training the best thing going to build him up. Likewise a course of good honest toil in Cod's own sunshine, instead of hours in billiard saloons, would put a little manhood into the "weary Willies" who hesitate or fight shy at any work beyond the task of smoking cigarettes. The .dairy industry means much to Tarnnaki. and every effort should be made to increase the yields of our butter, "cheese,"etc. The farmer is benefiting by the high prices ruling for produce, but bis prosperity is passed on to others. Xo one can question bis desire to help the Motherland. His butter factory usually makes substantial donations to patriotic funds in its particular district, whilst the fanner, in proportion to the number of eligible members in Iris family, will be found to have as good a percentage of soldier sons as any other business class. On several farms tho oldest and youngest in the family are striving to keep up with tilings, and the girls who previously found housework the usual routine of their labors, are also getting down to the cowshed. Probably those,who are really reaping the greatest harvest are the milking-machine companies. The machine has solved a lot of difficulties for the farmer and made the work less a drudgery than before their advent. Yet farms are continually c'hangin,'; tends, and the purchaser frequently finds it impossible to have machines, ami if he cannot secure labor his loss is severe.

Other factories besides Eltham also anticipate (.mailer herds through similar causes. Around Tariki last summer a young woman was to be observed in the fields ploughing and showed excellent results, whilst some of t'he factories'are also, having workers of the so-called weaker sex on their staff. Probably the Farmers' Union will discuss the question of "farm labor with a view to finding a solution. HAM-ERA DAIRY CO. The annual report of theHawera Dairy Co. states:—There have been no large additions to either the buildings or the plant during the year. The contemplated additions to the Whareroa branch are 'held over in the meantime owing to the cost. Last season's final payment for butter-fat brought the total pay-out up to the estimated figure, viz., Is 7<l. This season Is 5d lias been paid to date, and a further payment of 2d. plus fi per cent, interest on shares, will be available after the general meeting. The final distribution will take place when all account sales are received from London. The season's output of cheese (1597 tons) is a substantial increase of 30!) tons on that of the previous year. Butter, however, is 2S tons less. Statistics,—Pounds of milk received, 31i,200,141; pounds of butter-fat, 1.372,454; average test, 3.75. Used for cheese-making.—Pounds of milk. 34,004,700; pounds of butter-fat, 1,32-2,030; pounds of cheese made, 3,577,450 (1507 tons lewt. 2qr. 21bs); pounds of milk to make lib cheese, 0.773; pounds of cheese from lib butter-fat, 2.70-1; average test, 3.78; cost of manufacture, .50d; cost of manufacture (including depreciation), .05d; cost per lb f.o.b. (including depreciation). ,Sod; cost f.o.b. ,74d. Used for butter-making. —Pounds of milk, 1,205,351; pounds of 'butter, 40,815; pounds of butter made, 57,751 (25 tons l.'icwt. 2qr. lalbs); over-run, 15.03 per cent; avsrage test, 3.54.