“BOBBY” CALVES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 11 June 1928, Page 8

“BOBBY” CALVES.

POOL FORMED AT AUROA. A READY RESPONSE. In furtherance of the scheme for forming pools in South Taranaki of dairy farmers for the purchase and disposal of ‘‘bobby” calves, Mr. C. Dickie, chairman of directors of the Patea Freezing Company, Ltd., addressed a large and representative j meeting of Auroa farmers on Saturday evening, and as a result a very satisfactory response was made. At the close of the meeting a resolution to form a pool was unanimously carried. It was indicated that a total of nearly nine hundred calves would be forthcoming for the pool from the district, while there was a further number which could be secured. Mr. F. Aroa, president of the Farmers’ Union, was in the chair ami briefly introduced Mr. Dickie. He said that the Farmers’ Union was always anxious to back movements for the benefit of the farmers, but it was rarely they had so good an attendance at a meeting. After expressing thanks for the welcome and excellent muster of farmers, Mr. Dickie very interestingly sketched the “bobby” calf scheme since 1921, when he saw that there was a good marKet to be developed in a form of meat food which was in great demand oy the people of the old country. He said that till then it had not been considered in this country, and it was not till 1924 that his company had permission to make a trial shipment. They had to experiment in freezing methods, because the calves after being killed had to he treated slowly at an even temperature. The first lot reached England in fair condition, and he wished to acknowledge the help. of the Hon. 0. J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, by whose assistance the permit was granted. He referred to the opposition from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In England Sir James Parr had been of material assistance when the’ scheme was in danger of being stopped. It was of interest, he added, to know that Patea had the honour of perfecting the process of treating the carcases, and that engineers from Southland and other parts Had journeyed to those works to learn the process. The southern scheme had, as he had 'previously stated, been a great success, and had nearly doubled the return to farmers for their calves. Mr. Dickie referred also to the difficulty of getting the meat on to the Smitlifield market, and the “panicky” state of the Dominion exporters when some of them let their supplies go at a ridiculously low figure and Patea had to get out at fivepence per pound. He said his company was the only local concern operating in this district, and had been responsible for giving the farmers better prices for their cull animate, and therefore could fairly claim support in the present scheme. Mentioning hides, he said that those delivered from -the works were a hundred per cent, perfect, while when delivered at the farms there were only 10 per cent, in good order. The skins were all cut to one pattern, and there 1 were no holes in them so that they naturally commanded a better price. For the veal, said Mr. Dickie, there was an almost unlimited demand, and big firms such as Vestey and Weddell’s were needing supplies. Mr. Dickie related an interesting incident when in London last year. The manager of Armour’s had telephoned him in the matter of veal, and said his firm must get a supply for their customers, and be asked for a sample of, say, ten to twenty tons, in England, the speaker added, the “'hobbies” fetched high prices. In Holland, said Mr. Dickie, the farmers did big business in “bobby” and big veal, and had: particular methods of feeding and treatment, the calf being kept in a dark room for a month and led lavishly till it developed the size of a two-year-old steer. London would have veal for the veal and ham pies and other foods, and when the embargo was placed on supplies from the Continent, England had to look for other sources. Therefore New Zealand had been able to find a good market. Mr Dickie referred to the possibility of limbing •good returns from the gelatine to he got from the bones. Gelatine, lie said, went up to £3oo per ton during the war and still commanded a good price. • Ho then outlined the methods of the proposed pool on lines similar to .his ad- | dress at flawera, by which his- company would advance «. sum very close to the full value less cost- of requisites", labour and a .small proportion of overhead expenses. Farmers. would get cash on the day after receipt at the works. -The supplier of calves could get this advance with a bonus on realisation, or the company would buy outright if desired. They would 'hold and ship so that the meat and -skims arrived on the market at the right time. Pie believed that pools would be formed ail over the Dominion -ancl added that •dairy farmers had a firm hold on all this business. The big concerns at Home hacl ample scope and the best •gleans for disposing of the veal. A oomni':tcii of ithe union was required to be elected to keep in touch with the works. ‘e could assure the farmers that his company could guarantee the best service in the business,' for they were established and prospered by giving service. He had no hesitation in asking the farmers of Au.roa to give the icbeme a trial, ancl pointed to the great extension of the business ns a proof or their efficiency. The works. He said in -one/u.‘-■ion, had cost £240,000, and the farmers generally of the district had oiitributed only £38,000. He asked them to give their business to the company so as to help to keep the works toviig and to get the best returns .possible. Mr Aroa said there was no doubt they aero going to get more for their calves by this process, and urged all present to decide to support the • Patea com-

puny. In reply to Mr Sand-ford, Mr Dickie said the company was prepared to advance without recourse and would take the nV.-k, but naturally they could not give a price up to the biilt. The works had the opportunity <J testing out all the possible markets and he said that much business was done with Amsterdam, Hamburgh and until recently with France. They also, shipped r-kins to Boston, New York, and Canada. Skinbuying, he added, was one of the moist watertight -industries and they knew pretty well exactly what they were going t O . get. In regard to delivery, they had to allow a. shilling per head. Mr Dickie said that in England, Liverpool was perhaps the best market. The- chairman said they had been neglecting one of the best assets and he was sure the farmers would get a good price and a bonus after sales had been made. Mr Biigham said Pa-tea bad been the first to start this business and the farmers of Au-roa should deal with them and start a pool. Mr Aroa moved and Mr Bigham seconded that the farmers form a pool and

sell to the Paten Works under the terms as explained. The chairman said they would form a committee and arrange for cartage and to- pick -up calves an certain roads on certain days-. Mr W. F. Lyndon strongly supported the motion anti -said they should do all possible to keep the Pa tea Works in operation, for if there were hq- co-oper-ative works at that town the whole district wo-uld suffer. A list was then taken and from those in the loom, twenty-three promised supplies q-f calves totalling in all 365, and it was assured that there were probably several hundred more to come. O'n the motion of the chairman a hearty vote- of thanks was passed to Mr Dickie for his address. Mr Dickie briefly replied, stating that the scheme would bear good fruits. The meeting then adjourned.