HERD TESTING

Northern Advocate, 15 August 1931, Page 6

HERD TESTING

SUPPORT FROM CONTROL BOARD,

DISCUSSION AT WAIPU.

ADVERSE MOTION CARRIED.

At the annual meeting of the Waipu Dairy Company on Thursday, Mr R. F. Cates moved the following:—

“That this meeting of shareholders of the Waipu Co-operative Dairy Company views with disapproval the action of some of the directors in moving against the sixpence support, towards the herd testing movement, by Dairy Control Board, as we consider any movement to improve the serious position of the dairying industry at the present time should be ■welcomed by all primary producers.” The motion was seconded by Mr .1. Antonovich.

Speaking in opposition, Mr R. W. Johns said that he viewed herd testing as a business proposition, and claimed that any who could afford it should stand on their own feet without asking those who could not, for a subsidy. It should remain with the individual. The Dairy Control Board had been established for a specific purpose, and the fact that an alteration had to be sought in the statute before the grant of £6OOO was made, indicated that in the present instance it had gone beyond its powers. He noticed by the latest “Exporter” that there was a probability of the levy on farmers being increased. Mr J. -C. McKay regarded the motion as a vote of no-eonfidence in the directorate. As one who tested, lib did not think that others who did not should be asked to pay towards the improvement of his herd.

* There were other subsidies against which the people of Waipu had much more grounds to protest, in the opinion of Mr H. E. Hewlett. The subsidy was one of the last dairy companies should take exception to. As instancing the value of testing, he quoted the experience of Mr G. S. B. Morrison, who had built up one of the finest herds in the North by 25 years of observation. Herd testing .would be cheaper this coming season probably than ever again, and he advised as many suppliers as could possibly do so to take advantage of this. With 42 years’ experience as a farmcr on his own account, Mr Russell, Seiir., did not think it was much good testing half-starved calces. Provision of good pasture was the first essential -—testing would not pay bills. Mr R. R. McKay said that before testing was begun in Taranaki, owners were asked to number their cows in the order which they considered represented their worth as producers. The best cow in Taranaki was thirteenth on her owner’s list, indicating the yalue of testing information.- At the same time, he wondered whether the advantages were as great as claimed by the officials. The funds of the Control Board had been collected for a- totally different purpose. As a great believer in testing, Mr D. J. McLeod held thdt farmers must get down to it and pay for the privilege themselves.

In replying, Mr Cates said that the Control Board had made the subsidy because it was anxious to increase New Zealand’s production. " Without testing, herd culling was impossible, and regular testing kept a check on the bull. If it cost him 6/ a -cow tO test he would continue, and think the money well spent because it helped immensely in herd management and elimination of unnecessary overhead costs. If Waipu opposed the subsidy, it would be the only company to take Such a stand.

The motion was declared lost, 29 voting for and 31 against. / Directorate Supported.

On the motion of Mr Johns, seconded by Mr W. Schultz, the following resolution was made: —'‘That this meeting protests against the action of the Control Board in granting a subsidy to the Herd Testing Association.” Mr Schultz said that unlike other subsidies which came from the Consolidated Fund, this came directly from the pocket of the producer through the Control Board levy.

Votes east for the proposition numbered 39, and against >2O,