"GIFT" CALVES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 205, 30 August 1941, Page 5

"GIFT" CALVES

R.S.A. LAND SCHEME

SETTLEMENT OF SOLDIERS

A scheme to ensure suitable stock for the purpose of the settlement of soldiers on the land is outlined in a circular which has been issued by the general secretary of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, Mr. S. J. Harrison. This aims at the securing jf the assistance of farmers in the rearing of "gift"! calves, and provides for the winter-1 ing and rearing of the animals onj land which the Government has available.

The circular points out that delegates to the special land conference and to the R.S.A. council meeting in May last had stressed the necessity for providing suitable stock for soldier settlers and the special committee set up to co-operate with the Government had devoted some time, and thought to the subject. Some weeks ago the committee embarked °n a scheme to give effect to the resolutions passed regarding the provision of stock. It was hoped that the co-operation and assistance of interested organisations would bei available during the current season! in order „to implement the efforts ofl the association.

Unfortunate Delay TO^ oi : t ' Jnatel y. circumstances over the «e organisations had no avaniili pre rX, ented this hel P being nufi! » '<• hls hatl resulted in a n /u rtunate delay having reseason of the year, and therefore now all the more * nd important that local should give their assist--Fk direction now outlined. nr,nL SP u C 1 committee, adds the urpftti? V ad str essed two important! TiSSI reasons for securing stock. SSI ere = , (1) The lands it is pr£| settl 9 , are n«t now in dairy] P oduction, with the result that the

[stock required is additional to the iDominion's normal annual requirements; and (2) with the change over ito cheese manufacture it is a definite Icertainty that the number of jstock reared this year will be substantially reduced.

All local associations were, therefore, asked immediately to take steps within their own districts to secure the help of farmers for the irearing of one or more calves. The adea at the present time was that jthese calves should be free gifts to Ithe soldiers and, as far as possible,! jshould be of approved origin. From I jthis point of view it was probablej 'that the assistance of local organi-j jsations, such as herd testing associations, A. and P. associations, farmers' unions, and dairy factory directorates jmight be enlisted. ! Delivery in New Year I The Government had land avail-i jable for wintering and rearing this! 'young stock, states the circular, and! .had agreed to take delivery early in j the new year—approximately the! lend of January. Females with a! ireasonable proportion of young malel jstock from approved herds was whatl iwas desired. \

I Local associations are asked in the circular to advise what amount of stock was going to be made availlable under this scheme so that the [Department could make arrangejments for taking delivery. The Northern Wairoa Association is Icommended for having embarked on a similar scheme before even the ispecial committee had commenced' its inquiry.