SLIGHTLY LESS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4107, 2 March 1949, Page 5

SLIGHTLY LESS

BOBBY CALF PRICES ADDRESS BY ORGANISER PAEROA ANNI AL MEETING Although the price received by the Paeroa Bobby Calf Pool this year was a little less than last year the season, on the whole, has been very satisfactory, stated the chairman of the pool, Mr 11. Morgan, at the annual meeting held last week. The poo] had met with many difficulties, not the least of which was the dropping of exchange rate, he added. Mr N. Hastings, Dominion organiser of bobby calf pools, claimed that the price paid by the Pig Marketing Association had not been exceeded by any other company in New Zealand. Skins fell to an average of 58d from the previous 74d, while Is per calf extra killing charge was made as well as approximately 33 per cent, increase in railway freight. The suppliers received 87 per cent, of the total realisation of their bobby calves, which showed that the business was being very well handled by the Pig Marketing Association.

The realisations of the pools were: Light calves, 23s 7d; heavy calves, 28s 7d; skinners, 11s. Altogether 3882 Paeroa and district calves were handled, of which 4.61 per cent, or 179 were condemned. A total of 111,752 calves were handled by the Pig Marketing Association.

Mr Hastings explained that steps were being taken by the secretary of the Pig Marketing Association to see that calves were being weighed cor--ectly. Rebate on killing charges, which is paid out only on bobby calves, amounted to 2d per calf. The realisations of the bobby calves handled by the/’ig Marketing Association worked out on a national basis, which showed a realisation of lOd or 9d per lb. dressed weight, added Mr Hastings. The average skin weight 13 years ago was 4 lb. per calf and although today the calf on the average was lighter, the average weight of calf skins this year was 4.70 lb.

Mr Hastings explained very fully the steps taken by the Bobby Calf Federation to get an increase in price for the skins supplied to local tanners and what had already, been achieved showed the great value bf co-opera-tion. There was at present £1,500,000 in the Bobby Calf Stabilisation Account at the, present time, concluded Mr Hastings. Mr Morgan and Mr W. J. Noble thanked Mr Hastings for the way in which he had presented the balance sheet, which was adopted. To replace the two retiring members of the committee Messrs H. A. Morrison and J. Silcock were elected.