TO REDUCE STOCK LOSSES

Matamata Record, Volume XX, Issue 2012, 27 February 1939, Page 6

TO REDUCE STOCK LOSSES

VETERINARY ASSOCIATION _ Support fitem Farmers At Ngarua :and Tauhei % 'She proposal to form a MorrinswJ&e Veterinary Association with a view 'to reducing losses in dairy -stock, received strong support at representative meetings of farmers at Wgarua on Wednesday evening and at Tauhei on Thursday. THE NGARUA MEETING Ait Ngarua a motion by Mr. H. A. Pikett, seconded by "Mr. J. F. James, -was Tossed without ’dissent endorsing die proposal to form a Veterinary Association. Messrs. A. Vickers and A. Hayward were appointed delegates 'to a meeting of a central committee 'to be held in the near future. Twenty-three farmers -Signed the application for membership forms, this being all present who -were qualified through ownership Of herds to ■become -members.

■Mr. A. Tickers, president of the Ngarua ’branch of the Farmers’ Union, occupied the chair, and called on Mr. A. Hayward, a member -of the provisional committee of the association, to address the meeting. “We are here to-night to put forward proposals to r forming a veterinary association in the Morrinsville district,” said Mr. Hayward. Farmers need not be reminded of the terrific loss to the industry through cows dieing, particularly in the spring months. That was not all. Over 1000 cull dairy cows go through from Morrinsville to the Horotiu works every week. The Rangitaiki Dairy Company was able to run its own veterinary association because it had a complete zone. As there were four dairy companies operating in the Morrinsville district it had been decided that it would be better to form a veterinary association. The provisional committee urged farmers to appoint a veterinarian and have his services full-time. The committee considered that 40 farmers would be sufficient. The veterinarian would have about 22,000 cows to attend to. It was desirable to have the club’s area within about 10 miles of Morrinsville, so that the veterinarian could reach any farm by car within about 20 minutes. In the off season the veterinarian could use quite a bit of his time in educative work. Most established clubs supply medicine made up by the veterinarian at cost price, plus, say, 20 per cent. The committee were of the opinion that if they could get £IOOO to £I2OO it would be sufficient to run the club. The Rangitaiki company found the veterinarian’s car cost about £250 a year, including depreciation. The committee thought some of the best veterinarians in New Zealand would apply for the job if a high enough salary were paid. It would be necessary to offer about £7OO a year. A secretary 'in ' Morrinsville would be necessary to do all ’the secretarial work, and it would be wise to have " an accountant, who would need to be paid, say,' £7O a year. The committee suggested charges as follows:’ £2 10s f6r herds of up to 50 cows; £3 10s for herds of 50 to 100 cows; Is per cow extra for cows over 100. This would average out at the same as Is a cow.

It seemed that the prospect of getting a Government subsidy is fairly remote, so it was l no hse waiting for Government assistance before form-' ing the association. The meeting was asked to elect two delegates to go to a central meeting in Morrinsville to form the association. That committee couid well be a permanent one.

Other speakers were Mr. M. E. Barrowclough (president) and Mr. C. Cates (secretary), of the Morrinsville branch of the Farmers’ Union, Mr. F. W. Seifert, chairman of the Morrinsville Dairy Company,* and Mr A. Topham, of the Auckland Executive of the Farmers’ Union. ,Mr. H. A. Pikett moved: “That this meeting of Ngarua farmers endorse the principles as laid down by Mr. Hayward and the provisional committee, and take steps to join the Morrinsville Veterinary Association.” This was seconded by Mr. J. F. James and carried with two dissentients. Later these two farmers agreed to the proposals and signed the membership form. SUPPORT AT TAUHE! Last evening Messrs. F. W. Seifert and M. E. Barrowclough addressed a meeting of Tauhei farmers on the veterinary association proposals. All present signed the application for membership. Messrs. Seifert and Barrowclough were elected delegates.