COLLECTING BOBBY CALVES

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1742, 25 June 1936, Page 6

COLLECTING BOBBY CALVES

COUNCILLORS’ FEELINGS I Question to be Reviewed The opinion thaf" this might be the first shot in a matter pregnant with difficulties was expressed by members of the Matamata County County Council and the county engineer (Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald) when an application for permission to collect bobby calves was received by j the council on /Friday. Mr. Fitzgerald said there were rumours of a “ bobby calf war." He had no definite knowledge of this, but thought the carters concerned should agree among themselves. The engineer quoted the following regulations gazetted that day to ensure the proper feeding and maturity of calves offered for sale or sold for slaughter for human consumption, these coming into' force immediate- j ly, and there being a penalty of £5 for their breach. The regulations are:— No person shall sell or offer for sale any calf unless it be properly and sufficiently fed daily from birth,/ and has been fed not earlier than four hours before the time of its actual removal from his premises in pursuance of sale or contract or intended contract for sale. The onus of proof that the regulations have been properly carried out will lie on the defendant. No person shall purchase, drive or convey any calf which appears to be unfit, through weakness or immaturity, to be driven or conveyed to a place of slaughter. Cr. E. D. White thought the above regulations contained nothing new or anything likely to overcome cases of cruelty. Calves collected in a perfectly-healthy condition in the morning might, through long rough cartage and lengthy waiting, be in a bad state on reaching the railway station, and then, if the inspector found them dead, the blame would fall on the farmer. The chairman, Cr. J. W. Anderson, thought the inspector should be at the station, as the calves were not likely to deteriorate greatly during cartage. If they were damaged by suffocation, as Cr. White suggested, that would be the carter's fault. Mr. Fitzgerald said carters in the district had agreed to collect on only two days per week, each carter on the same day. Cr. White explained that; this Would ensure the - proper maturity of the calves, but Mr.. Fitzgerald thought many might have to wait too long. He thought too little attention was being given to the practical side of the matter. ' After further discussion it was decided to grant permission to the applicant for one month, after which the matter would be reviewed. '