BOBBY CALF POOL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20244, 11 May 1940, Page 8

BOBBY CALF POOL

INCREASED PAYMENTS AVERAGE OE 7/5J CARTING COSTS LOWER GISBORNE AND COAST After one year’s operation, the Poverty Bay and East Coast Bobby Calf Pool Committee is able to report a decided improvement in conditions, compared with those that prevailed prior to the formation of the pool. A comparison between the pool’s first year of operation and of the previous season’s returns to farmers was made by the chairman of the committee, Mr. W. A. McCliskie, at the annual meeting held in the Kin Ora Co-operative Dairy Company’s office yesterday afternoon. “During the 1938-39 season,” Mr. McCliskie said, “the average weight of calves collected in this district was 32.91 b. In the 1939-40 season it was 32.3911 b, aproximately Jib lighter. “In 1938-39 the average price was 5s Id, as against 7s 5Jd in the 193940 season, showing an improvement of 2s 4.1 d per head for a lighter calf, In 1938-39 the average carting cost over the area was Is 7Ad, as against Is 4d in the 1939-40 season. In 193839 the percentage of condemned calves was 2.12, while the figure in 1939-40 is shown as 3.4 per cent, representing 252 calves out of a total of 7343. Underweight Calves “As against this, let us deal with the calves collected as underweights which otherwise would have been left at the gate. Instead, these created a credit of 373 calves, so that in effect, against the position obtaining under 1938-39 conditions, there were no condemnations which would have been a charge on the proceeds of the exportable calves “The difference in the average values paid at the gate for the two seasons under review is made as follows: — (1) The 3id saved in cartage; 12) the exportable value of 373 calves which were bought at skinnei value; (3) The Id saved in commission: (4) the real improvement in the market value of the product.” Mr. McCliskie added that tiie indications for the coming season for the sale of bobby calf products was even more promising than last season. The meat would be taken over by the Government and the skins would be siffd in the meantime on a free market, which appeared better than formerly. Waiapu Area Following the adoption of the report. the meeting agfreed to recommend that the Ngatiporou Co-opera-tive Dairy Company, Limited, should form a separate pool for its suppliers. The following committee was elected: —Messrs. ' M. Doyle. E. 11. Baker. A. Donald. Cl E. Smith, W. A. McCliskie. G. Brown and C. J. Hamilton. The secretary. Mr. J. H. Sunderland, spoke in appreciation of the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association’s efforts on behalf of the pool. Mr. McCliskie commented that the local representative of the P.M.A., Mr. G. 11. Sceats, had been largely responsible for the smooth running of the scheme. Mr. Doyle referred to suppliers on dead-end roads, and it was agreed to ask Ihose suppliers to notify the carriers when calves were ready for collection. At a subsequent meeting of the newly-elected committee, Mr. - McCliskie was re-appointed- chairman, and it was agreed to give effect to a recommendation from the annual meeting to appoint the P.M.A. as agents for the pool. It was decided to make a,n endeavour to collect odd lots of calves before the regular collections commence. Messrs. McCliskie, Doyle and Hamilton were appointed a special sub-committee.