Whangarei Joins Herd Improvement Association

Northern Advocate, 28 July 1939, Page 9

Whangarei Joins Herd Improvement Association

Amalgamated with the Northern Wairoa, Bay of Islands and Mangonui Herd Testing Associations to form the newly-constituted Northland Herd Improvement Association, the Whangarei Group Herd Testing Association lost its separate identity. Decision to conform to the amalgamation scheme was made by notice of motion at the annual meeting of the association yesterday. The Whangarei association has been dissolved, and the assets and liabilities transferred to the new organisation, which assumes full responsibility for the winding-up process. The association was formed 11 years ago on the joint action of the Whangarei, Hikurangi, Maungatapere and Waipu Co-op. Dairy Companies. Mr H. A. Hawken, Maunu, and Mr H. E. Hewlett, Mata, are the Whangarei association’s representatives on the executive committee of the new organisation, which recently finalised arrangements at a meeting at Kaikohe.

Mr G. E. Durney has been appointed to take charge of the new organisation, with head office at Whangarei. Mr J. Nevil Brown, secretary and supervisor to the Whangarei association, will continue to operate in this district.

The Government and the New Zealand Dairy Board have agreed to assist the new organisation as part of a Dominion-wide policy.

Sire Survey Important,

“The efficacy of the new plan depends on the information from the bull survey,” said the chairman, Mr H. W. Ellis. “If these are not effective, the scheme will fall down under its own weight.” Mr Ellis pointed out that last year the Whangarei association had shown a loss of £B6, due to the poor conditions at the beginning, which had discouraged farmers from testing. In the 1937-38 season, 6542 cows had been tested, showing a profit of £lO7, with the average expense for each cow standing at 4/3^. In the last season, however, the number of cows tested had fallen to 5191, and the average expense per cow had been 4/104. It was thus to be seen that the new association should aim at testing as many cows as possible, and at keeping the groups full.

Chief Officer’s Remarks,

An outline of the operation of the new system was given by Mr Durney, who said it had been introduced not because of any weakness in the old scheme, but because of new factors. Herd-testing had gone right away from its original intention of testing cows for butterfat production, and had now reached the stage of testing for reproductivity. “The success of the dairy industry depends on the productive value of the sires, and a genetic approach must be employed,” he said. The new system would give bettor record, and uniform methods of operation throughout. An intensive canvassing campaign was planned for the whole of the North to interest as many farmers as possible, and much assistance should be gained from the appointment of a dairy board supervisor in the district.

Made to Join?

“The Whangarei association was told willy-nilly that it would have to join the new organisation, otherwise it would not get a license to test,” declared Mr F. Elliott, Hikurangi. “I am by no means certain that the change is going to effect a great improvement, although I hope that‘Under it some progress will be made in combating disease in stock.” He did not appreciate the manner in which the new move had been settled in the Wellington offices by men who could not have had practical experience of conditions, especially in Northland, said Mr Hewlett. He admitted, however, that the new association should tend to increase efficiency, and that was the reason why the representatives of the Whangarei association had agreed to the project. “Some progress might result,” he added.

Notice of motion to agree to the change was put forward by the chairman, and carried. Tributes to Supervisor. As one of the association executive, Mr E. S. Tremaine expressed appreciation of the services rendered by Mr Brown as herd-testing supervisor. This was endorsed by the chairman and several other members, and Mr Brown was accorded a vote of thanks. > The chairman also congratulated Mr Durney on his appointment. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman and members of the committee of the Whangarei association on the motion of Mr K. M. Stevens, On the motion of Mr Hewlett a vote of appreciation was also extended to the four dairy companies who had lent generous support to the association.