CORRESPONDENCE CALF SUBSIDY.

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1944, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE

CALF SUBSIDY.

(To the Editor). Sir,—lt was recently announced that a subsidy would operate in the forthcoming season for the rearing of heifer calves for dairy purposes. To pay this, it is proposed to deduct from bobby calf payments the sum of two shillings a head. Maybe, Sir, I am not as good a‘s some of the Cabinet Ministers at simple arithmetic, but this is how it seems tp me. My calculations are based on a patriotic farmer milking fifty cows, who v decided to save five calves above his usual replacements of five. Last year this farmer sold forty-five bobbies at 14s 6h (P.M.A. payment), realising £32 12s 6d. Next year he sells forty at 12s 6d realising £25 He received the £1 subsidy on the remaining five calves, bringing his nett payment to £3O, which is £2 12s 6d below his income of the previous year. At the best, this subsidy is taking money from one pocket to put in the other, but as it entails a direct financial loss, I doubt whether it will encourage farmers to increase their dairy herds. I am, etc.. T. E. HOLM, Hohonu.