WAIKATO FARMERS' UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 14

WAIKATO FARMERS' UNION.

TESTING PEDIGREE COWS. AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT. J HAMILTON. Friday l'he Waikato executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union met to-day, Mr W. Lee Martin presiding. it was resolved that in view of the manner in which the herd-testing asso ciation was supporting breeders by mark ing only calves sired by purebred sires, the union was of opinion that the breeders' association should insist that all pedigree cows of milking breeds should be tested regularly for butter-iat, but not necessarily semi-officially. Tho reso lution is to bo forwarded to the Combined Breeders' Association for consideration. Members oi the executive expressed the opinion that tests, to be oi any value, should be conducted under ordinary herd conditions. Mr. D. Bruce complained of the practice oi some breeders in testing two or three of their cows and sailing the whole pedigree herd on the strength of such tests. Mr. W. H. Worster agreed that the whole herd should be put under test. He said this was being done by almost all the Ayrshire brooders in the district. The meeting congratulated the presi dent, Mr. Lee Martin, on his election to Parliament. Mr. H. L. Thornton said although members of the executive had supported a rival candidate at the Rag lan by election, they were all convinced Mr Martin wouid do all he could in the interests ot the farmers. Mr. Martin said he trusted he would be able to lustify the confidence the electors had placed in him. He would use every en deavour to promote the farmers' welfare. The meeting resolved that the time was opportune for the institution of an agricultural course in connection with the Hamilton Technical School and decided to accord full support to the principal of the school in any scheme he-might bring forward.