COWS AND CARAVANS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 119, 3 October 1941, Page 43

COWS AND CARAVANS

IR,-May I congratulate you upon the able interrogation which evidently took place before the interview entitled "Cows and Caravans" was published the other week. One is impressed with the note of enjoyment which runs through the experiences related by the women concerned. After one year in the field, it is now an established fact that women can "carry on for the duration," and longer if required, as Herd Testers. "Cows and Caravans" has appeared at an opportune moment for another course for the training of a further 30 women has just been decided upon, and will take place at either Lincoln or Massey Agricultural Colleges in November. Selections will be made from applicants who are country women between the ages of 20 and 35 years, in good health, and preferably with dairy-farming experience. Education should be at least proficiency standard. Tact and a pleasant address are qualities which herd testers should possess.

While there is much fun in the life of a herd tester, it must be realised that there is serious and responsible work to be done, too. The Herd Recording Moyement is an organisation which has achieved its present usefulness and importance only through years of hard work and surmounting of difficulties. It relies largely upon its herd testers to not only test milk for butterfat content, but also to collect valuable information which after being dealt with by a specially trained staff, is submitted again to the farmer in the form of statistics on diseases, causes of low production and many more vitally important matters concerning the industry as a whole and the farmer in particular. It can be seen therefore, that it is an important service organisation, relying upon its recording officers for faithful and efficient service. A good officer also endeavours to assimilate knowledge in farming practice which can be passed on for the benefit of others. She aims, too, to obtain the maximum information from the farmer’s testing records, thus enabling him to gain the greatest possible advantage from the herd recording service. Food being as vital as guns to-day, and the production of it New Zealand’s particular job the importance of carrying on herd testing efficiently can readily, be seen. In short, it is a real war effort. I personally believe that apart from the physical strength required-a not insurmountable difficulty-women of a certain standard are particularly suitable for the work. So long as we bring honesty of purpose, a willingness to serve and to learn, the rest will be added unto us. From a woman’s point of view, particularly a country woman’s, with no other prospect than that of staying at home with no special job to do and little scope for self-expression, it is a heaven-sent

opportunity for an independent lifeparticularly as a lesser number of women will have opportunity for marriage. It should be made quite clear that those unsung war-workers, the wives and daughters of dairy-farmers- now nobly filling the gaps made by the enlistment of men who formerly were engaged in

farming, are not included in the invitation to become herd testers. Herd testing, of course, comes next to farming.

D. M. E.

SILSON

Hon. Secretary,

Women’s Herd Testers’ Reserve, C/o P.O. Box 866, Wellington.