DAIRY FARMERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 174, 24 June 1926, Page 8

DAIRY FARMERS

QUESTION OF HERD TESTING. VALUE TO DISTRICT. At the meeting of the Dairy Farmers’ Union this afternoon, a recommendation was tabled by Mr W. H. Gimblett that the executive liavo inserted in tlio local papers an appeal to dairy farmers in the Manawatu to join up with tho Manawatu Dairy Farmers’ Herd Testing Association, lately known as the Rangiotu Dairy. Farmers’ Union Herd Testing Association. As the association was extending its operations he would like to see the district become one solid block in herd testing. The scheme was very efficient and the cost reasonable. Ho would like those already interested to assist in the formation of new groups as far as possible. The union, said Mr Algar, had expressed its support of the herd testing association. The chairman (Mr N. Campbell) explained that tho association was now incorporated and running on most successful lines, having engaged an organiser who was campaigning in the district. He urged support of this body and pointed out the efficiency of its testing methods ns compared with other schemes. The cost to those joining was 3s 9d a cow for tho first year and less for succeeding years, while if a Government sub'sidy wero granted the cost might even be brought as low as a shilling per cow. Ho moved, seconded by Mr Boyce, that the recommendation be supported by the union. Mr Harkness, while cordially approving the association’s scheme, said that others should not be deprecated. Under any system of herd testing a man did not desire to fake results—ho wanted to know the value of his individual cows. Further, one did not always tost with the object of securing records for the purposes of selling his herd. He, personally, had tested for five years under the Government system and now that ho was leaving tho district was not selling a hoof but was removing his test-proved herd 300 miles by rail. Tho advantages of the association’s scheme wero stressed by Mr Boyce and tho chairman, tile latter pointing out ■that, under private schemes, the test periods were often neglected by the farmer, especially if he had a herd of fair dimensions.

The farmer should not be attracted to the scheme by the possibility that dairy companies would subsidise it by a shilling a cow, with a like subsidy from the Government, said Mr Algar. That idea was not to be advanced, said the chairman.

Mr Short failed to seo why such a scheme was needed where private schemes of proved efficiency were operating without cost to the Government. Ho suggested that the union support the scheme in areas where no others, such as the Government scheme, were operating and moved that as an amendment.

“No scheme under which you can take your own samples is efficient,” said Mr Boyce. Mr Haar seconded tho amendment. Mr Harkness said tho Rangiotu scheme was efficient, but it should not be used to decry others. Where other efficient schemes were working they should bo allowed still to have a freo field. He suggested, without success, that the motion and amendment bo incorporated. Mr Singleton, Director of the DairyDivision. said the chairman, would like to see the association’s scheme operating all over the district and abolish the Government schemes. If the union supported tho association it merely backed an efficient scheme and individual union members and farmers could continue to tost under whatever scheme they deemed best. Mr Boyce: The union can advocate this as an efficient scheme and all others will “sink or swim” according to how they prove themselves by comparison with it in working. That is the true test as to the merit of other SCllGlllGS. The association organiser, said the chairman, had only criticised other schemes fairly, saying that, while they cost the farmer 2s a cow, it was ffifficult to say what they cost the Government; ’ The amendment was defeated by five votes to three and the motion supporting the association scheme was carried. PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. Arrangements for the provincial conference wore well advanced, said the chairman. , Mr Short moved as a conference remit, and it was agreed to accept same, that all yards where pigs were offered for sale be regularly inspected.

Also accepted as a remit was a motion moved by Mr Harkness: ‘ ‘That this conference unanimously confirms the principle and policy adopted by the Wellington executive—that the Dairy Farmers’ Union is strongly of the opinion that the Dairy Control Board should be elected by the individual vote of the dairyman on the ward system, and not by the directors of dairy companies, or under any other system. It was further resolved to ask all members of Parliament to advocate this system and the bringing into operation of control on September 1 next. MR CAMPBELL COMPLIMENTED.

The president thanked members for their support during the past year and expressed the hope that the new president would be equally well supported. Mr Algar paid a tribute to Mr Campbell as president, Mr Harkness stating that the success of the union had been largely due to Mr Campbell’s leadership. The district had reaped a lot of benefit from the operations of the union, which, he felt sure would be successful in its advocacy' of the ward ssytem. He (Mr Harkness) was about to leave the district, but would not sever his connection with the union, which he desired to .see much more strongly supported by the farmer. “We have done pretty well,” said Mr Short who congratulated the chairman, and expressed regret at the impending departure of Mr Harkness from the district'.