N.Z. Friesian Breeders

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 1423, 19 June 1936, Page 3

N.Z. Friesian Breeders

ANNUAL MEETING.

WHAT OF GUARANTEED PRICES? The annual meeting of tho New Zealand Friesian Association was held at tho Showgrounds yesterday afternoon, Mr H. E. Johnson (Tokomaru) presiding over a good attendance. In moving tho adoption of the report and balance-sheet, tho president said that tho past year had been an eventful one as well as. one of progress and it appeared that members appreciated the service tho association rendered and were realising more than ever the national aspect of the organisation. He recalled his earlier reference to the improving marketing conditions and said that his hopes of higher prices for both butter and cheese had been realised. With more money available, farmers were now looking for and urging better stock with the aim of a higher standard of production. This was as it should be and would give encouragement to breeders of pedigree stock, who had carried on through the lean years. A new Government was in power and putting into operation its policy of guaranteed prices for dairy produce. “Whether this, takeu in conjunction with other planks in their platform, will benefit the man on tho land is doubtful, and will need to be proved,’’ ho said. “The doubtful part of it is, although wo are going to get better prices for our produco than for several years past, costs of production, quite definitely, are going to rise. You know that the Public Works Department is offering a standard wage of 16s a day and you know that while that wago is offering, the average young fellow is not going to work on a dairy farm for 30s a week.”

Continuing, the president referred to the departure overseas of tho association’s secretary, Mr Kalaugher, who would, on his return, have much of interest to recount. It was pleasing to note an increase in tho number of breeders registering stock and also the favourable trading balance in the association’s accounts. The increasing number of outstanding roturns from tested cows had helped further to raise the breed in public esteem. The breed easily headed the averages for milk and butter-fat production for all breeds on c.o.r. test, being 521bs Uigher than the nearest competitor. Too much stress, he said, could not be laid upon the necessity of testing all herds, if not under c.o.r. conditions, then certainly under group testing rules. Were it not for testing, the Piri Land Company’s champion, Totara C.R. Buttercup, and many other wonderful producers, might never have been discovered. Another gratifying feature in the production records of the Derby winners and Class leaders was the fact that they were made over a wide area, which demonstrated that tho breed would thrive in the cold south just as in the wanner North Island conditions.

Concluding, Mr Johnson tendered the thanks of the association to tho director and officers of the Dairy Division and the officers and councillors of the association.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. s Officers were elected as follows: — President, Mr H. E. Johnson (re-elect-ed); vice-presidents, Messrs O. J. McGowan (Auckland) and James Hart (Morrinsville) ; auditor, Mr D. R. Revell (Auckland). Tho retiring members of the council, Messrs O. H. Cadwallader, H. E. Johnson, D. J. McGowan and E. M. North, were re-elected unopposed.

With the object of preventing “buying in” at dispersal sales, Mr A. C. Trousdale (Auckland) moved to amend rule 10. c. as follows: “When a breeder advertises and holds a dispersal sale, no progeny (born within 12 months after sale) of any female offered and sold at the sale shall bo eligible for registration by the vendor.” The mover said that the existing rule on tho subject did not effectively cover the position, for it permitted registration after 12 months.

Mr E. M. North (Otago) seconded the motion pro forma.

Major R. Wilson (Bulls) said that the original rule on the subject was thought to cover tho position, but it had since been found to be ineffective. Mr Trousdale said that this was' the pssition and he was confident that if the association adopted the motion, other breed societies would follow suit.

Air H. J. Alarchant (Stratford) said that the proposal was aimed at removing an evil which young breeders often suffered from. It had happened at socalled dispersal sale that the vendor arranged to “buy in” the best cows and heifers, and those looking for stock and influenced by the - announcement that they- were attending a dispersal sale,' purchased second-class stock. A suggestion that the fiiotion be widened to include reduction sales did not appeal to the president, who remarked that operations at such sales were at the buyer’s risk, but at dispersal sales the buyer purchased in all good faith. The motion was carried unanimously. The meeting endorsed tho action of the council in electing Air E. C. Banks (Tauranga) a life member of the association in appreciation of his lengthy membership and service on tho council of tho association. Reporting on the council meeting, tho acting-secretary (Air N. R. Roper) said that members considered that there were very bright prospects for opening up an export trade with Australia and Fiji and with the object of assuring that only the best quality stock was exported, it had decided to recommend the Alinister of Agriculture to set up a board to control the export of all live stock.

It was agreed to recommend to the Royal Society that June Ist bo recognised as the standardised age date for the purposes of A. and P. show's.