JERSEY BREEDERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 24 July 1925, Page 10

JERSEY BREEDERS.

THE STRATFORD CLUB. ANNUAL SOCIAL. Approximately 50 Jersey cattlemen and others interested in the breed assembled in the Marble Rar rooms on Wednesday evening, on the occasion oL the Stratford Jersey Cattle Club s annual social. An interesting toastlist, interspersed with varied items ot song- and story, combined in an instructive and entertaining programme, which, together with the opportunity afforded for general discussion, was greatly appreciated. Mr. D. O’Sullivan (president of the club) presided. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs H. B. Lepper (president of the Taranaki Jersej Council), H. Sampson (president of the New Plymouth Club), D. P. F. Malone (president of the Kaponga Club), J. ibv-oiis (direc+or of the Live Stock Division), AY. T. Collins (district superintendent of the Live Stock and Meat Division), J. M. Sliotter, P. A»tken, and C. Afarchant. THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Following the loyal toast, Mr. J. AA . McMillan (Mayor of Stratford) proposed ‘The Dairy Industry.” Air. McMillan congratulated the new president of the club on his election to the office, and thought Air. O'Sullivan could be depended upon to succeed worthilv his predecessor, the late Air. F. Ranford, 'to whose memory the speaker paid tribute. Air. McMillan proceeded to stress the indebtedness of the dairy industry to the officials of die Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture, and eulogised the services rendered by Air. Cuddy the exdirector, who, the speaker regretted, had been compelled to discontinue his duties owing to ill health. It- was, however, gratifying to know that he was succeeded by such a worthy gentleman as Air. Sing'.eton. Air. AlcAlillan said it was to be hoped that the oilicers of the Department would receive better recognition of their services, and that the time would not he far distant, when the remuneration they received would lie made to accord more fittingly with the service rendered. He also mentioned the need for encouraging officials to improve their knowledge, better facilities for which should be provided, though under existing conditions the officials were to be commended on their efficiency.

COMPARISON WITH 1914. In responding, Air. J. B. Richards stressed the importance or the industry, the output of which was valued at approximately £20,050,000 annually and affected not only the farmer, but tiie whole- oil the community. He wished, kowever, to iafter more particu,ariy to the men on the land in the Taranaki province, where favourable conditions were afforded lor production and for the small settler, who was the backbone and foundation of the industry. Recently they had been through a boom period, and were now recovering from the aftermath, and a comparison of present-day conditions with those ruling prior to the boom period would be of interest. The price then paid out was approximately Is per lb of butter-fat, and to-day it would be reasonable to say th e price was Is 6d. Since the former tim© production had greatly increased, This was shown by the produce handled at the Aloturoa. grading stores, where the amount had Keen doubled in the last 14 years, although ail produce from the district did not go through the Aloturoa works. The increase could also be seen in the amount o butter-fat received by the Stratford Daily Company at .Pukeugahu, where 1,319,1721 bof butteivtat had been received in 1914, compared with 2,256,979 this season, though, so far as he understood, the area or land i'om which the factory diew supplies had not increased. AVhereas, however, the production had thus increased 70 per cent, the revenue, which for the respective periods amounted to £65,958 and £169,272, showed an increase of 256 per cent. The sneaker further instanced the case of an individual farmer whos© butter-fat production had increased from 12,0001 b to 20,0091 b, the revenue at Is and Is 6d respectively being £SOO and £ISOO, or a- 250 per cent. increase. These comparisons would serve to show that there was everv reason for continued confidence in the land and the dairy industry. Jt had, of course, to be admitted that expenses had increased, but comparing on a air basis he thought- they were not disproportionately greater. The speaker concluded by appealing for greater attention to testing, and mentioned that despite the lower yield from high-testing mi'ik, the man supplying nigh-testing milk received more for his milk than the man supplying a low test.

VALUE OF SHOWS. The toast “A. arul P. Associations” was proposed by Mr H. Hunt, who said that the progress in stock-breed-ing could be largely attributed to the exhibitions made possible- by the A. and P. Associations’ shows. These exhibitions, with the opportunity they provided for comparison and noting the '(Utilities to lie aimed at were of great educational value, and helped to bring the merits of various breeds before those interested. He instanced the iceat popularity secured of late years tlie Jersey breed, whic-h had been made known and brought to its present iigh standard in the Dominion largely •’■rough the agency of the show ring. Not nti'v cattle, hut al| classes of stock, owed a great deal to the shows, and is the improvement of stock had its •rllex in the prosperity of the towns i- behoved people residing i n town areas 'to support the shows just as winch as the rural dweller. If the former would onlv realise the good belt'/ effected bv the A. and P. Associations. they wou’d. lie felt sure, give tetter support, and he strongly appealed for that help. Mr J. V. Boon (president of the ■■trat ford A. and P. Association), who replied, complimented Jersey clubs on their activities, and noted with pleasure the support they gave the A. and P. Associations in providing prizes which were an added inducement to exhibitors. The associations endeavoured to induce farmers to exhibit stock, but lid not receive the fad measure of support available. He agreed with the .revious speaker regarding the help which should lie forthcoming from the towns, but also thought the farmers should give wider help and so enable die associations better fact jties for fostering the improvement of all kinds of slock. He mentioned the efforts being made to establish a suitable veterinary surgeon at Stratford, and asked for assistance i tl providing the financial guarantee required, in connection with which it was proposed to acquest pedigiCe breeders to guarantee 2s and others Is per head of stock if required. ASSISTING THE JERSEY. The chairman proposed “Kindred Clubs.” There was no doubt, said Air O''Sullivan, that Jersey o'ubs had don*, a great deal for the breed throughout the Dominion. Referring to the success of the Stratford Club, he said the

.ate president (Mr F- Ranford) had -iveii services which could not have "'ee n bettered and could not be too dcrhly praised. He thought the o-übs hacl ’been -of great help to the New Zealand Jersey Council, and this was ippreciated by the latter. In New Zeaand to-dav the membership in Jersey Clubs was‘l4oo, and was stronger than tnv other similar body. It was a-so stronger than in America, where the membership was u little over 1000, though there were considerably more ot the breed in that country. It gave aim very great pleasure to note the cooperation among clubs in New Zea,and. which would prove the keynote to the success of their work in the future. , Mr M. AY. Priest (secretary ol the Kaponga CLub), who responded, referred to the amicable relations and the spirit of mutual help prevailing among oho various clubs fostering the Jersey breed in New Zealand. An interesting paper entitled ''famous Jerseys and their Effect on the Breed in New Zea,’a-nd” was read bv Mr F. Griffiths, advisor on the Jersey breed to Alessrs Newton King, Ltd. Jn its conclusion, Mr Griffiths wqs accorded a vote of thanks, carried by acclamation. Mr H. Linnell proposed ‘‘The Department of Agriculture,” which he said deserved the thanks of all dairymen for assistance given to the industry. The semi-official testing scheme inaugurated by the Department in 1913 had been a big factor in bringing .he Jersey breed to tne eminent position it occupied to-day. This was only one of the* many directions in which the Department had endeavoured to inorove stock and the conditions of the ndustry generally* He paid tribute in especial to the officials of the Dairy Division for the courtesy and consideration they always extended and for the information they made available to the interested inquirer. In combating disease in herds, the Stock Department imd greatly helped oatt-'emen, and in another direction the Fields Division was doing work of great value to the fanner.

TESTING ADVOCATED. Messrs A. Cook (Stock Division) and J. A. Dawson (Dairy Division) responded. Mr Cook complimented Jersey breeders on the high standard of stock raised and maintained, and. speaking of the appointment of a veterinary surgeon at Stratford, urged that the movement be supported. The Department of Agriculture was, he thought, one of the most- important qt 'die Government de)|>a>rtme.qjts, f-s it dealt with matters concerning Hie farming industry, which was The mainstay of the country, and it afforded him pleasure to note from th- remarks passed during the evening that its work was met with appreciation. In some interesting observations rebating to bleeding, Mr Dawson stressed di v importance of maintaining a, herd sire of the best standard the breeder ;oultl afford. He thought this point uul tho trial of likely animals was not given the attention it merited. Air Dawson also urged greater attention to testing, which, if adopted more genei!v wow'd prove a hip factor in im.moving the herd standard. It had been estimated that if farmers throughnut the country could show an improvenont of lOlbs per cow the revenue from .be industry would be approximately £1.000,000, but it was only by systematic testing that the breeder coulcl discriminate and know the animals it paid best to retain. AJr Dawson ccn■l tided bv hoping that farmers as a whole would give attention to testing, it’d said he felt sure that if this was lone and pedigree sires showing but-ter-fat production on both sides, a •!v desirable improvement in rc»xmus would result.

Other toasts were ‘‘Control,” proposed in humorous vein by Air T. Kirkwood and responded to in similar strain bv Mr A. J; Barr; “The Ladies’’ 'Messrs A. Betts—C. Jackson); “Visitors” (Messrs J. Browning—F. Pratt); “The Chairman” (Mr J. AY. AlcAlillan); “The Press” (Af.r A. J. Barr); “The Artists” (Alessrs D. O’Sullivan —H. Linnell), and “The Innkeeper” (Alessrs 1). O’Sul .ivan —F. Gladding). The following contributed to the musical programme: Messrs H. Linn'll, C. Sheridan. A. O’Sullivan, B. v.iisen, G. T. AY alters, and L. Joyce. Mr R. F. Page acted as accompanist.