DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1916, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

INANGA-PUKENGAHU. (From Our Own Correspondent., After a rather protracted spell of wet and boisterous weather, we have at last had a few beautiful warm days, which we hope an the presage of a glorious summer. While the adveiit of the wanner weather has not increased the flow of milk by any appreciable quantity, it has its reflex in t higher test. '£o endeavoi to get an idea of climatio conditions in relatiou to the test of cows, and how it individually affected different breeds, I weighed and took test samples on the very wet, cold days experienced on the 17th and 18th of last month. In some instances the cows showed no depreciation in weight of milk, but a drop of from 4 to 12 points in test for those two days. The. only twe Ayrshire cows in the herd showed no variation in either quantity or quality; five Jerseys, a drop of 3 to a points in test, and 2 to 3 lbs. in Jiilk per day; five Shorthorns upset all expectations, as they not only dropped 3 to 4 lbs. in weight of milk,- but 0 to 12 points in-test for the two days, but they regained normally ir: two days. It would be interesting to know if any of your numerous correspondents have tested climatic changes in relation to its effect on different breeds of cows.

In writing about dairying, I feel I cannot allow a statement in yours of a reoent issue (copied from the Hawcra Star) pass unchallenged, viz.: "The majority of our women-folk, however, seem to conside; it beneath their dignity to milk a cow, even though their men-folk are engaged in a life-and-death struggle," etc. Such a statement I consider a direct libel on the women of Taranaki. In my travels in different parts of Taranaki, I notice practically all the women-folk,, excluding those residing in the towns, are toiling from early morn till late at night at work, in connection with dairying. I know of women nigh on 60 years of age, with their sons at the war, and they, instead of enjoying a rest which, by their age, they are entitled to, are putting in full time at the cow-shed. So far as I am able to judge, the women of Taranaki are nobly doing their part; and, judging by the way the mother, wife, or sisters of our soldiers are rising to the occasion, we need have no fears in regard to Taranaki falling short in the path of duty.

I would like to see our Government copy the scheme in vogue in Germany of hiring out to farmers all interned aliens, and, if necessary, bring over a shipload of German prisoners to assist those whose boys are away fighting, or, wnero a settlement of returned soldiers is located, allow them a gang of prisoners to make their holdings reproductive. Many jf the returned soldiers are not fit to work their sections, but could mount guard over prisoners, and as there are a number of Germans all over New Zealand and Australia, either endeavoring or awaiting a favorable opportunity to give us trouble, they would be kept out of misohief, and solve the shortage of labor, difficulty, if the Government would round them all up, and compel them to work on reproductive works. The farmers in our valley could absorb the labor of fifty German prisoners for some time. Jf they worked well, thehy would have no cause for complaint, but if they got obstreperous well, they would have no cause tor happen, but we could provide a broadminded jury if an inquest was necessary.