HERD TESTING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 190, 13 July 1936, Page 12

HERD TESTING

MEETING OF OFFICERS. The annual meeting of the testing officers of the Manawatu Herd Testing Association was Held on Wednesday, when the new conditions of employment for the coming season were explained. Mr W. H. Gimblett, president of the association, was in tlie chair. In welcoming the staff, lie referred to the good relations which existed between the association’s executive and the staff, and said the very satisfactory position of the association was in a large measure due to their co-ooperation. The new Government’s policy of guaranteed prices and high wages necessitated the attention of the association, Mr Gimblett added, and the executive had been in communication with other associations upon the wage question. The executive were quite in favour of paying testing officers a good wage, hut had to take into consideration the farmer’s position and the uncertainty as to what the guaranteed price for dairy produce was to bo. The charge of 4s 9d up to the 60th cow and 3s for each additional cow in the . same herd had been arrived at by the executive, after long consideration, as the most equitable charge for all concerned. This price would still provide herd testing to the farmer at a very reasonable figure and at the same time enable the association to pay a higher daily wage to testing officers, a higher transport allowance, and provide for other increasing costs. A comparison of the price paid for butterfat during the past depression years with that now being received and the anticipated guaranteed price would show the new charge for testing to be on a very low basis. The regulations for testing officers and additions to members rules were then explained by the secretary. The adoption of the New Zealand universal test sheet issued by the New Zealand Dairy Board, and the consequent change of test sheet work was explained. Members are to be supplied with a folder similar to those at present in use in the office filing system and the testing officers’ duties will include assisting the farmers to keep the folder posted up-to-date. This system will not only provide the member with a more permanent file of liis returns, but will enable a montli-to-montli check upon individual cow’s records, with a minimum of trouble. This month-to-month check on the cows is a very valuable adjunct to testing. It was part of the members’ duty to provide accommodation for testing officers, and should this be impracticable members would be expected to pay the officer 3s per visit to cover his travelling expenses to a place where he could secure sleeping accommodation, it was stated. If meals could not be provided, a higher price still should be paid. The association would, however, prefer members to provide accommodation in view of the fact tht the new transport allowance would be on a mileage basis. Members should always endeavour to fit in with the day chosen for the testing officer’s visit, as this would tend to keep running costs down. If it was found that certain members were in the habit of postponing the testing date some additional charge might become necessary. To encourage members to make eligible all calves, the charge to test-1 ing members had been reduced 50 per cent., the chargo now being Is per j calf. To non-testing members the re- 1 duction had been from 2s 6d to Is i 6d per calf. It was hoped that the j number of calves marked would in- j crease perhaps 100 per cent., but provision had been made ' for a reduc- I tion of income in this direeton. The 1 Dairy Board would now be issuing the calf certificates, which would • mean that, with the commission paid to testing officers, practically the J whole of tlie revenue received would .• be expended. I