BOBBY CALF INDUSTRY

Matamata Record, Volume XX, Issue 1855, 2 August 1937, Page 6

BOBBY CALF INDUSTRY

FARMERS ’ C OMMENT Committee Set Up The poor attendance at a meeting held in the Farmers' Hall on Thursday to consider the question of pooling bobby calves caused the president of the Matamata Farmers’ Union, Mr. F. C. Bush, to express his keen disappointment in view of the cooperation shown by Ngarua and Springdale farmers in this connection. AN “ALL IN” BUSINESS Whether it. was due to the fact that farmers were now getting more for their calves or not, he did not know, said Mr. Bush, but he believed that the carting of bobby calves was now back on the old bad basis and that carriers were pulling tickets off pens and carrying on A voice: In “all in” style. (Laughter). Continuing, Mr. Bush said he had a scheme to put before the meeting, but in the meantime would call upon Mr. Higgins to outline the Ngarua scheme. Mr.. A. J. Carter questioned whe- ' ther it was worth while carrying on with so few present. Mr. H. Sutherland said the meeting was too small to do anything. Mr. Bush said that as some had i come a long way he felt they should

give them all the information they had. THE NGARUA POOL Mr. Higgins said that Ngarua farmers had pledged themselves to stick together this season whatever happened, as they realised that thy farmer was being made the chopping block of a commercial war. Their aim was not only to save the industry, but to save the Dominion from the slur which had been cast upon it on account of the bobby calf industry. In Ngarua 60 farmers had pledged themselves to form a pool A committee had been set up and while outside carriers were getting Is 3d the Ngarua pool got a price of 9d. The calves were weighed at the gate and placed in one of three grades. The grades were: First, 551 b to 561 b; second, 561 b to 711 b; third, 711 b and over. The committee would make a payment about October and a final clean-up afterwards. Any farmer needing it could get a draw meanwhile. The committee decided whether the calves should be sold locally or overseas. An accountant was paid approximately 2d per calf. The point was that the farmer wqulfl get everything there was in the business. Calves under 501 b were condemned at the works, and this affected the price, apart from the pool, owing to cartage, killing and other costs having to be paid without any return. They had hoped Matamata and Putaruru would link up with Ngarua, but there seemed to be lack of interest. Replying to a question, Mr. Higgins said that where the farmers formed a pool Transport Board prices became null and void. In outlining one scheme, Mr. F. C. Bush said all calves would be handled I at Id per lb live weight plus 6d per head saved in cartage. At the end of the season an average cleanup payment equal to present average “ at-gate ” price under the present system would be paid. In addition the group would get any surplus. A card system of Ml farmers’ supply would be kept, which would be open for inspection at the end of the season. Mr. Bush added that it was pretty definite that next year the business' would be under the control of the Government or the National Dairy Association, and it would be a good thing, too. It was necessary from a humanitarian point of view,

and to stop the absurd fluctuations in price which were not caused by the Home market. Price fluctuations meant someone was getting “it in the neck ” or would get “ it in the neck.” Mr. K. S. Cox, president of the Putaruru branch of the union, stated he was there to get information. Mr. Carter urged that a committee ■ be set up. Mr. Higgins supported this view. COMMITTEE APPOINTED Finally the following committee was set up with the object of forming a pool: Messrs. F. C. Bush, D. B. Higgins, J. C. Mackenzie, W. Findlay, H. Sutherland and A. J. Carter. Mr. C. A. Deihl (Putaruru) asked if the committee would visit a meeting it was proposed to call at Putaruru. Mr. Higgins said he would volunteer to go. Mr. Deihl said things were chaotic in Putaruru. Tickets on pens naming particular firms were placed face about and the calves taken, and if only one carrier went down one road farmers only got about 8s 6d for i their calves. No further motion was passed, and the committee elected was given power to act in conjunction with Mr. P. R. Hawke, representing the Hinuera Dairy Company. HINUERA VIEW Addressing the annual meeting of suppliers to the Hinuera Dairy (Company Mr. P. R. Hawke said the price of bobby calves had exercised the minds of farmers all over New Zealand. The Matamata County Council had endeavoured to cut out the overlapping in cartage for some years. A meeting convened by the Transport Board had been held in Auckland, at which he had suggested the solution could be found by co-operative effort, as had been done in the dairying industry. The Minister had asked that a price- be set for buying and carting, but in the meantime pools had been formed. The Ngarua pool had received a tender of 9d per head for buying and carting, which was a saving of 6d. The price for calves had recently been raised and many farmers now appeared to be satisfied to let matters remain as they were. He felt convinced, however, that some pooling scheme would be devised for next season. He thought it was too late to do much this season. The industry was in a state of chaos and something would have to be done. Replying to a question, Mr. Hawke said that the Farmers’ Union had opposed a pooling scheme at the Auckland meeting, because' the delegates had not discussed the matter with their branches, and so could not commit themselves. If it was good enough to handle their cream by cooperative effort, surely they could handle the bobby calf industry the same way and thereby get all there was in it. In moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Hawke for his excellent resume of the position the Hon. J. Cotter suggested .that Mr. Hawke be appointed to represent the company in negotiations on the question. This suggestion was approved.