N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 4 September 1925, Page 6

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

FRASER ROAD BRANCH

(From Our Own. Correspondent.)

Is it daylight robbery of the low. testing factory to pay out on the butter-fat basis (Bad cock test) who™ cheese is being manufactured; this was the first point dealt with on Monday night at- the local farmers’ meeting by Mr. H C. Johnson of the Stratford Technical High School—a man well known among Jersey breedei s. From prepared charts he set out to show that the case of the Jersey as a cheese producer has not always been fairly stated. The results of his own experiments led to the conclusion that the higher the butter-fat test the higher proportionately was the cheese solid content of th© milk. Hence the lower testing daily cows are not necessnrilv the best for cheese production. \o-ain the Director of Agriculture or th© Victorian Government, after conduct! n " a series of experiments, supported this. Therefore it is not an injustice to payout on butter-fat when cheese is being manufactured V e are ant to rush to a conclusion by merely comparing factory with factory on figures alone There are other factois. For instance, much depends on the skill of the factory manager. On the same point, Mr. Johnson quoted a Taranaki factory which paid out on a butter-fat and casein basis, ft is significant that this was don© tor one year only. Why? The highest butter-fat test carried with it- the highest casein test. It is a pity that the attendance was so small but this was compensated by the interest aroused by informal question and answer. The .speaker suffered much cross-examination, but always had ready a “pat” answer. He admitted that much harm has been done by indiscriminate breeding. On the other hand lie maintained that the Jersey is the most economical cow to the dairyman, whilst the Babcock test fairly makes it the best paying proposition. To pay out on cheese solids is unpracticable as it would Rood the services of an analytical chemist besides the factory manager. To sum up, the three lectuies on Holstein. Ayrshire and Jersey cows as cheese producers would n«ed an able pen than mine. There is one point cleat however, namely : tlie dairyman who breeds from his best cows. Provides them with suitable conditions, and attends to liis ioh will always come out on ton. And, what is more thereisroom ‘for every farmer on the top. O that be said of any other woiker m U The°hist thanks of the meeting were accorded to Mr. Johnson. SOUTH TARANAKI EXECUTIVE. The ordinary monthly meeting of the South Taranaki Executive of the - • • Farmers’ Union was held y« There were present: Messrs R. Dunn (president), S. Huston, 3. H. A. Sutherland,' W. T. Seed, J. • Forhs, W. Gane, L. Babington, W. E. Carter, E. J. Betts, M. W. Barker, A. L. Campbell and J. Dakers. A resolution was passed dealing with funds held by Te Roti branch of, the union. ■ ■* ,_ SCHOOL COMPETITIONS.

The secretary advised that he had ■written to various schools asking if a special function was to he lioldjn order to present prizes won. at, the root glowing and calf-rearing competitions, ami suggesting tliat if not, sonic such fuiu ■ tion he held. He had communicated with Toko, Huinga, Ngaorc, Mangatoki, Matapu, Te Roti, Rivcrlea. Oliangai, Tokaora and Oeo, and reported. tha,t arrangements had been made or were being made to hand over prize money at most of them. He assured members that there rvas a very marked interst in the competitions, and he was certain entries were likely to be very good. The president stated that it was resolved not to allot points for the feeding cost of calves and to ."judge on the best calf entered, hut that, charts were to he sent in as before. All calves had to be heifers and the age made no difference. Some might be six weeks older.

Mr. Barker advised. that the A'jvatuna Hall Committee had supplemented the prizes won by the school’ children in the competitions, its objct being to foster interest in the work.. The president said that the best way to foster the movement- was to talk to ■ the parents. He said he had. done so at Auroa/ and there had been a marked revival in the scheme. He added that at a meeting of the union in Auroa last night the sum of £5 had been voted to the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs and £5 to the school afforestation fund. This was part of money raised by local functions. FARMERS’ COMPETITIONS.

In regard to the root-growing, the chairman said that the country was divided into districts where conditions were about even and land of the same class, and it was open to every com : petit or to dig in all the manure he wished. VALUATIONS. Following on the receijit by the executive of an estimate of receipts and expenditure on an average farm of 100 acres, prepared by Mr. G. W. G'ane, to support a plea for reduction of valuations, it was resolved that a copy be sent to - Messrs. Corrigan and I Pawken, M. sP., and that they use their discretion as to .submitting flu* eslimato to the Valuer-General’. A general informal decision followed, & in the course of which mnnv interesting points were raised. While there were’ naturally differences of opinion as to details, the contention that heavy reductions in valuations were essential was generally and warmly approved. Healing, with the question of valuations, it was mentioned bv the chairman that revaluations in’ the Normanbv district had resulted in a reduced valuation of about one-third. M r G'ane. said that even greater reductions Should actually be made in many cases. He suggested that if new valuations were not considered sufficiently reduced they should put in a f: at 1 < 1 further reductions. Mr Charter said in his oninion valuations were much too high. Dealinowith ontiiut of farms, he said he knew oil-acre places which were producing 11 000 to 12,0001 b of butter-fat and other farms twice or three times as large not producing more. He considered, the larger farms should' be cut up, for on smaller holdings more attention could lie given to detail. He said lie felt certain he could get ' a better return from 100 acres than from the larger farm he now held. He was certain that when men went in for larger areas they had not in many cases the capital nor the labour to work' them properly, and the farms did not pro- ' duce their maximum and actually went

back in condition. Mr Gane said that it interest and depreciation were allowed for a farmer was not making wages, and he made no allowance for liis wife and children. Referring to depreciation oil stock, Mr Dakers said he was inclined to agree with Mr Gail© in liis estimato and that many farmers were not actually making what they thought they were. He would say, however, that th© depreciation, should be heavier, and he suggested 20 per cent as nearer the mark.

It was stated that according to average figures taken from local balancesheets it takes more than two acres to keep a cow, and as it is well known that many places are milking a cow to the acre some parts, said a member, must be doing pretty poorly. Mr Forbes said undoubtedly manures were required to prevent the land going hack. He knew cases where formerly a beast could he kept to the acre where now it took two acres.

Mr Carter said that in a recent nddi *ess Mr Ford said the country was deteriorating for the want of proper manures, and that so much was taken out of it that the dairy stock could not get the lime and minerals necessary to keep them in condition to ward off diseases. The chairman said that undoubtedly the heavy milking cow depleted its system, and it could not take in mineral matter to build up. It wanted much more minerals, than were available, and this want prevented the cows carrying on their functions properly. ITe urged farmers to have ample supplies of rock salt and the planing of super and lime in the water troughs. This, he felt sure, would help to prevent slipping. On one of the experimental farms boxes of salt and minerals were placed for the use of the stock. He knew also a case where super and limp had been put in the ensilage stack with very good results. FENCES ON FARMS. The question of renewing wire fences was one point raised during a general informal discussion after the executive meeting. The discussion centred round the question of the expenses of running a 100-acre dairy farm, which had been figured out by Mr Gane. He affirmed that in this area near to the coast it was necessary to renew these fences every 10 years, and some part in a shorter time than that. He added that this depended on how soon rain fell 'after the salt spray. If no rain fell for a week or two the spray played havoc with wires. Mr Dakers said his experience was that a mile or two from the cliffs some fences had gone in three years. Mr Gane said a chain harrows on his farm had 1 heen worn, out in 10 years., hut it was not rusted out. GENERAL.

The secretary advised that a circular had been received asking for a donation to the fund for a presentation to 'the Dominion president on the eve of his departure on a commission to study agricultural banking schemes. He had been authorised by the president to send. £2, and 3s!)dhad also been expended on telegrams. Of these amounts part had been refunded as the Dominion secretary had seceived, more than was required.

A vote of thanks to the chair con eluded a useful meeting.