STRATFORD DISTRICT PAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1926, Page 8

STRATFORD DISTRICT PAGE

Telephone Nos. 152 Office 218 Private

(FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTERS)

Telephone Nos. 152 Office 218 Private

CLEAN AND WHOLESOME MILK. IMPROVING FARM CONDITIONS. WORK OF DAIRY INSTRUCTOR. “Well, I am very pleased to see you again, and I hope you will notice the improvements.” This was the welcome accorded Mr. H. Olliver, dairy farm instructor attached, to the Stratford and Midhirst dairy companies, on his arrival at the first farm of those he visited yesterday, and. may be taken as an indication of the general feeling towards this popular officer throughout the district allotted to him. A Daily News representative who chanced to accompany Mr. Olliver on some of his visits, took the opportunity yesterday of studying the conditions under which milking was carried out and the suggestions for improvement (in some instances sweeping and drastic) recommended by the instructor. In no case was displeasure evinced at the officer’s appearance; rather, the farmers realised that his trained services were being placed at their disposal and, if his requirements were sometimes of a fairly extensive nature, they recognised the expediency of the suggested alterations and in most cases made real efforts to modernise their milking surroundings. Mr. Olliver’s district includes all areas from which milk is supplied to either the Stratford or Midhirst factories and their numerous branches. With Stratford as a centre, he travelled eastward as far as ’Whangamomona, northward to the Tariki Road, westward to the radius line, and southward to the Bird Road. In all, he visits between 600 and 700 farms and encounters fresh difficulties in every district. He has now been engaged, over three months and expressed keen satisfaction at the way the average farmer entered into the spirit of his teachings and was taking up the matter of improving his milking conditions. “But still,” he said, “there is room for the widespread application of more modern and sanitary methods.” INSTRUCTION BY DEMONSTRATION, On farms where milking machines are in use, one of the instructor's chief concerns is to emphasise the need for boiling water available right at the shed. A farmer nowadays likes to be shown, and it is by a system of demonstration that the instructor drives home his arguments. He carries with him a long metal plunger hooked at one end, and with this instrument is able to show the farmer just what accumulations are present inside his rubber wear or milk pipes. He advocates the use of a little caustic soda in the boiling water, and. is able to prove the efficiency of this medium by actual demonstration. The cleanliness of milking machines and dairy utensils has an important bearing upon the quality of the milk, and reflects upon the occupier of the farm. Dirty pipes and vessels are convenient breeding places for harmful bacteria, and many objectionable flavours in the milk are traceable to this source. The instructor has no easy job in tracing and eliminating milk flavours, for their presence may be due to a hundred and one causes, ranging from the food and. drinking water of the herd to the conditions of the drains and the arrangement of the shed. Mr. Olliver mentioned that already a great number of dairy farmers had become converted to the sight of a bubbling copper full of hot water at the shed each morning and were using it with excellent results. Where electric power was available, a large number had installed electric heaters, and these also seemed to be working with satisfaction. Another cause of unsavoury flavours was sometimes found in the location of a piggery near the shed, inadequate or non-existent drainage, accumulations of manure beside the milk stand, ventilation, unwashed sheds, and many other causes. All these, the instructor has to reckon with in his daily fight for pure milk, and often he spends days on the one farm systematically exploring possible avenues towards perfection. Another source of trouble is the - unsheltered condition of the milk stands. It is wise to place full cans in a cool spot where the air is pure and free to circulate, but it is folly to leave the cans exposed to the direct heat of the sun. It becomes then a duty of the instructor to Bee that each exposed milk stand is equipped with a roof or some other sheltering device, so that the milk may be kept wholesome. The use of the milk plunger is another common

oversight even on farms where the herd is milked by hand.

The dairy instructor’s work appears to have no -end. He cannot be too insistent in his requirements, and it is policy for him to allow ample time for a farmer to conform with suggested improvements. Under such conditions he has often to make repeated visits to certain farms, and this delays his regular itinerary. Nevertheless there can be no doubt that he is doing a useful and valuable work, and managers of factories are already able to notice an improvement in the state of the milk supplied. SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Primary School Committee was held last night, when there were present: Mr. W. Hoskin (chairman), Mrs. P. Thomson, Messrs. A. Ferguson, H. E. Lawrence, F. H. Voseller, J. McKee and C. Mcl. Young. An apology was received from Mrs. McMillan. Messrs. Hoskin, Ferguson, Vosseler and Lawrence were appointed with power to act as a grounds improvement committee. It was decided that the time for the extension and improvement of the ground was now opportune. Tiie headmaster reported that the attendance had shown a decided improvement and there seemed to be a freedom from sickness. He considered the results of the proficiency examination recently held would be excellent, though the official returfis were not yet in. The concert, which was one of the most successful ever held, realised a profit of £52 14s lid. The fire brigade collection for the grounds fund resulted in £5 10s 2d being collected. The thanks of the committee were due to Superintendent Grubb and his men for their help. The baths were opened for school swimming on November 10. The chairman reported that so far the baths had not been open to the public. At present the committee’s difficulty was the appointment of a caretaker, as the regular caretaker was it hospital and the relieving man was unable to manage the baths. Mr. McKee said a man had approached him in this connection and had promised to arrange with six or more others to act as caretakers during public hours if the committee desired. The chairman, Mrs. Thomson and Messrs. Vosseler and Sanderson were appointed a baths committee. “That this committee emphatically protest against the action of the Minister of Education in transferring the control of the baths to the Stratford Technical High School Board of Managers, and that Messrs. Hoskin, Lawrence and the secretary be appointed to go into the matter with Mr. E. Walter, M.P.,” was the motion carried by the c - imittee when the chairman reported that a notice had appeared in the Gazette handing over to the board of managers the control of the baths. WEEK-END BOWLING. PROGRESS OF PAIRS COMPETITION. A good many matches were got off during the week-end, and the pairs’ com-

I petition connected with the Stratford ! Bowling Club is assuming an interesting condition. The following are the reI suits of recent play: | Sayers and Lindop 29 v. Dixon and ! Amess 8. | Fenwick and Carryer 20 v. Reid and j Woodhead 13. I Oliver and Walters 23 v. Ewing and Davis 20. Harper and Froglcy 22 v. Hickson and A. S. Martin 14. Burgess and Hunt 26 v. Bake and Knewstubb 9. J. Smart and Leech 27 v. Battersby and Skoglund 15. On Saturday the Methodist Tennis Club played the St. Joseph’s Club, Eltham, and were victorious by 14 sets to 2, Stratford winning 122 games to 70. The details are as follows, Eltham names mentioned first:— Men’s Singles.—Morrison 4 v. Berg 9; Foster 9 v. Hale 8; Nodder 2 v. Boon 9; Haswell 5 v. Clements 9. Ladies’ Singles.—Miss Cooper 2 v. Mrs. Berg 7; Miss Nodder 3 v. Mrs. Boon 7; Miss Casey 7 v. Mrs. Knewstubb 6; Miss Walsh 6 v. Mrs. Summerfield 7. Men’s Doubles.—Foster and Morrison 4 v.’Clements and Berg 9; Nodder and Haswell 4 v. Boon and Hale 9. Ladles’ Doubles.—Misses Cooper and Nodder 4 v. Mrs. Berg and Mrs. Boon 7; Misses Casey and Walsh 3 v. Mrs. Summerfield and Mrs. Knewstubb 7. Combined Doubles.—Miss Cooper and Morrison 4 v. Mrs. Berg and Berg 7; Miss Nodder and Foster 5 v. Mrs. Knewstubb and Hale 7; Miss Casey and Nodder 4 v. Mrs. Boon and Boon 7; Miss Walsh and Haswell 4 v. Airs. Summerfield and Clements 7. GENERAL ITEMS. Entries for the Stratford Show are coming In steadly, it is reported, in all classes, and the number of nominations in the steer-riding contest is considered most satisfactory. Intending entrants are reminded that entries close finally on Thursday, November 25, at 8 p.m., at the secretary’s office. On Saturday the Plunket Society took £22 Ils at their annual street day. The cake competition was won by Airs. S. Pit, and the correct weight of the sheep (140Jlbs.) was guessed by Messrs. E. Collins and L. Walker. The sheep-gues-sing was very popular, and some very close guesses were recorded. PERSONAL; Sirs. W. E, Williams is visiting Patea.