HERD TESTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 200, 24 July 1926, Page 8

HERD TESTING.

Whatever differences of opinion may exist in regard to the compulsory control of the dairy produce export, there can be none concerning the -advantages that are to be derived from herd-test-ing. The dairy division of the Department of Agriculture is rendering our dairy farmers inestimable service in that direction by demonstrating the necessity for so improving the dairy herds of the Dominion as to secure the best possible return for the farmer himself. Notable results have been obtained. by those of our farmers who have taken advantage of the knowledge gained by herd-testing. At its last meeting the Wellington Chamber of Commerce carried, a resolution expressing its “satisfaction at the progressive movement of the dairy farmers in herd-testing resulting in an improved annual yield per cow,” and supporting the request that is being made to the Government for a subsidy, “the benefit of which will reach those farmers who effectively apply the principles of herd-testing and culling.” Mr A. Leigh Hunt, who moved the resolution, gave some very interesting facts and figures, “secured from a reliable source,” which amply demonstrate the advantages of the herdtesting business. Citing the number of dairy cows in New Zealand at 1,323,432 he stated the average production approximately at 180 lbs. of butter-fat. During the 1924-25 season the number of cows actually tested was 196,850. Of these 151,875 gave an average yield of 223.54 lbs. of butterfat. If the full number of the tested cows (196,850) had yielded 300 lbs. of fat instead of 223.54 lbs. fat, at Is 6d per lb. it would have meant an increased revenue of approximately £1,222,045, Rut if all the dairy cows in New “Zealand had given an average production of 300 lbs. of fat, at Is 6d per lb. the increased revenue would have amounted to £11,910,888. The herd-testing results have shown that 300 lbs. butter-fat is a by no means difficult standard to attain and, consequently, if the dairy herds of the Dominion were brought/up to that standard, the increased value of the dairy products would fall very little short of £12,000,000 per annum, that sum, as Mr Hunt points out, being obtained with very little additional labour and the utilisation of no more land than at present. Hundreds of farmers have, we are told, got their herds up to the 300 lb. standard, and many to a higher figure, and, if all set to work in earnest over the business, then, within a very few years, many millions of additional revenue would be assured. The subsidy which is being asked for is, after all, very small compared with the benefits derivable from the extension of the herd-testing and culling business, and there ought to be no difficulty in obtaining the £IO,OOO required for the purpose, which, we trust, will find its way on to the Supplementary 'Estimates, if the Minister of Agriculture has not already made provision in that direction.

The woman who was knocked down by a motor car at the junction of two Auckland streets, yesterday morning, and died on arrival at the St. John’s Ambulance station, was Mrs Dooley, a resident of Grey Lynn. She was 35 years of age. Natural gas at Castlecliff. was known to settlers in the Wanganui district 60 years ago. Young people riding along the beach below the cliffs frequently applied matches to this gas, which could be detected by an oily substance flowing on to the beach (states the Herald). A wharf porter named Walter Smith fell into the Wellington Harbour last evening. The heavy overcoat he was wearing ballooned out and kept him afloat until Mr D. Brightwell dived within a few feet of the propelhr blades of the ferry steamer Maori and effected a rescue.

In reply to Mr G. W. Forbes in the House of Representatives yesterday, the Prime Minister stated that railway excursion trains had been run to Otira on two Sundays this winter, primarily for tho purpose of enabling the industrialists o*l' Christchurch to see tho high country of Canterbury under snow.

On Thursday afternoon a motorist at Sumner overestimated the amount of petrol required, and allowed tire greater part of a gallon to reach the road. Unthinkingly, ho struck a match to light his pipe. But for the timely as.sistan.ee of a large fire extinguisher, the car would have been reduced to scrap iron. There are three things to remember at Collinson and Son’s big salcquake: (1) Tho goods are all new; (2) tho quality is assured; (3) the ' price reductions are genuine. A few lines we’re reducing to bedrock Solid steel saucepans, English, to clear at, 8 pints now 2s 6d; 2 pints now Is each; English tinned frying pans with hollow steel handles, in three sizes, your pick Is lid each. Now’s the time to prune your trees. Here are the shears that will do tho work well, excellent value, good cutters, Biin., new - selling at 6s lid pair; rose pruning shears, nickie plated, now 5s lid pair; spare springs 4d and 6d each; hedge shears (Brades) English, 12ineh blade, now 7s 6d; long bandied lawn edge shears, now 13s 6d each. —Advt.

A sum of ‘£2 16s 6d, collections from ■workers at the Miranui flax mills, has been forwarded to Mr 3 S. V. Trask for the hospital fund. The proprietor of a tea room opposite the railway subway was filling a gas meter with water by the light of a match last night when the gas became ignited. An alarm was sent to the Central Fire Station but . the brigade’s services were not required.

In the case against C. C. Odlin. in the Wellington Court His Worship imposed a conviction on the alternative charge of negligently making false income returns, and intimated that he would assess the penalty after the further charges had been disposed of. A half-caste Maori, named _ John Joseph Hansen, alias Jimmy Werata, aged 21, escaped yesterday morning from the Terrace Gaol, where he was serving a sentence of two years for forgery. • At the time of his escape he was wearing a pair of moleskin trousers, but he left his coat and vest at the gaol. Tho escapee, who is a short, thick-set man, had only been in prison for a month.

There is a parrot in New Plymouth which delights tho children who pass tho house where it lives by its varied repertoire, which ranges from GalliCurci’s trills, copied from a gramophone, to the crying of a baby. Lately, probably owing to the prevalence of influenza colds, it has produced a bad cough, and it is reported (says the News) that -when executing this it places .its l*md, or foot, in front of its face.

When searching at Pahihikura for Mr J. Brampton, a farm manager who disappeared this week, Constable 11. J. Thompson, of Hunterville, fell while crossing a steep face and sustained a severe injury to his The road was a mile distant, and with much difficulty he ivas assisted to a car and conveyed to Hunterville, where a doctor attended to his injury. Only a few weeks ago Constable Thompson sustained a broken rib and other injuries through being knocked down while on duty, at a football match, states the Rangitikei Advocate. Mr J. R. Hamilton (Wallace) yesterday gave notice in the House of Representatives of his intention to ask the Minister of Finance whether he would give the State Advances Department authority to grant advances for the repayment of loans on behalf of - deceased persons’ estates which ■were being administered by the Public Trustee. Mr Hamilton ’added that at present where a loan was being called up by tho Public Trustee on behalf of an estate in which he ivas administrator the State Advances Department would not grant loans for that purpose because t]ie loan was held by another Government department. Miss Ettie Rush, of Palmerston North, was a successful competitor at the eighth annual competitions of the Otaki Literary and Debating Club, which were held at Otaki this week, bliss Rush gained first awards in the humorous recitation and song classes, under 18 years, while she also obtained third prizes in the. humorous recitation and Shakespearean recital (open classes). Commenting on the last named, the judge, Mr Byron Brown, stated : “A good impersonation of Lorenzo for a girl. Quito a worthy performance.” The recitations were described as “being delivered with excellent humour.” An unfortunate case has been brought under the notice of the citizens’ relief committee in Dunedin. Two steady going young men, late of the Imperial Army, have been searching vainly for work since January last. One of them was in the retreat from Mons, and his brother also served in the war with a creditable record. The older of tho pair has been in New Zealand for two years, and until January last was in constant employment. He sent Home for his brother and sister, but by the time they arrived he was out of work. Both men have done very little work since then, but they aro now being placed in temporary employment.

A bricklayer who appeared at the Hastings Court on a judgment summons recently caused a mild surprise with some of his aiyiwers to counsel’s questions. After explaining that ho earned 24s a day, he said he paid no rent, but had to pay interest amounting to 10s a week. But on being questioned, the debtoi* confessed that the payments of interest were six months in arrear. Asked which hotel ho patronised, ho nonchalantly replied that he patronised all of them, and after having said lie had no regular work, but took just what he could get, he was asked by the Magistrate how long he had been earning 24s a day. “For about four years, was the reply. The Magistrate had little hesitation in making an order.