1 Frs., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 109 
MILKING AND TREATMENT OF MILK. 
There is, undoubtedly, a vast amount of room for improvement in the 
methods adopted in milking, and handling and treatment of milk generally. 
In my opinion, the improvement can only be brought about by compulsory 
legislation. It cannot be said that the carelessness in this direction is due to 
ignorance, as the farmers of this colony have had more tuition in these matters 
than those of any other colony in Australia. 
Tf one man exercises every precaution in milking in a most cleanly manner, 
cools and aérates his milk, while his neighbour does nothing of the sort and 
receives the same price for his milk, where does the advantage come in, or 
where is the inducement offered to the careful man ? 
It is an absurd statement, or else it is gross ignorance on the part of some 
persons who are bold enough to state that no instructions have been given the 
farmers in methods of treating milk. Every pamphlet issued by the Agricul- 
tural Department contains full information, and personally 1 have disseminated 
knowledge on the matter all over the colony. Nothing more could be done 
unless men were sent round to stand on the farmer’s doorstep and preach the 
matter to him, and I guess the instructor would then have a warm time of it. 
Such statements are made by persons who evidently run hurriedly through a 
district, and imagine that this and that should be done without knowing what 
has really been done. 
However, as already stated, if you find one willing to profit from advice, 
twenty are to be found who will adhere to the old methods, and will continue 
to do so until compulsory measures are enforced; and it is upon this matter 
that I challenge contradiction, knowing as I do that compulsion is the only 
means whereby reform can be brought about. It has been stated that instruc- 
tion without compulsion would be efficacious, and the same person stated that 
he had been the means of £200 being spent to get a few farmers out of the | 
old groove, and that, in addition to this, he paid from 3d. to 3d. per gallon 
more for milk carefully handled and aérated, and all this without success, 
which surely bears out my contention that compulsion must be the pre- 
dominating power. There is no gainsaying the fact that, if we desire to uphold 
a reputation for our dairy produce in the English market, we must adopt 
better methods in the sources of milk supply. 
In upholding dairy inspection, I have no axe to grind, and speak only in 
the interests of the farmers and the welfare of the industry generally. 
There are so many so-called experts at the present time, who pose as 
having a practical knowledge of anything and everything, and really know 
very little, that, if the farmers were to follow their advice they would very 
soon find themselves in the poorhouse. I have heard of a statement having 
been made by a man (who is supposed to have a knowledge of dairying) that, 
if compulsory inspection of dairies were carried out, the farmer would think 
the Government had a “ down” on him, and would leave the colony altogether 
or shut down his dairy. I think it must be admitted that the remarks came 
from a person who knows very little about the ways of the farmer, who will 
not tolerate anything that is going to hamper any important industry. It 
does not follow, because a man is a farmer, that he has only sufficient brains to 
milk his cows or hold his plough. My experience of most of the Queensland 
farmers is that they are quite competent to conduct their own affairs. Only a 
few days ago I heard an agent remark that, if the farmer can be kept in the 
ignorance in which the kanaka is kept by the sugar-planters, they (the agents) 
could live, and I have no doubt there is some truth in the statement. ; 
I should like very much to see the farmers take up the matter of 
Government supervision over the exports of dairy produce. If you consider it 
is not necessary, or that we can keep up a reputation for our goods without it, 
then I say, Don’t move in the matter. 
In conclusion, I suggest that the farmers form associations in the various 
districts, meet once or twice a month and discuss their own affairs, and also 
co-operate with other associations, and make known the result of the meetings 
through the medium of the Agricultural Journal. 
