HERD-TESTING POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22166, 20 July 1935, Page 9

HERD-TESTING POLICY

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION REORGANISATION PLANNED [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Friday The reorganisation of the controlling body of the group herd-testing movement was commented on by Mr. R. A. Candy, chairman of directors, in the annual report of the directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Herd-Test-ing Association." - Mr. Candy said he considered it most essential that the herd-testing movement should be governed by a body which had the necessary etatutory power to prevent "break-awav" associations from operating in an affiliated association's area, and to afford adequate protection to the heifer calfmarking scheme. Although finality in the matter had not yet been reached, it was quite likely that the Dairy Produce Board, together with an advisory committee, would in future be responsible fo? the control of herdtesting.

Mr. Candy said the association's proportion of the Government subsidy for the 1933-34 season amounted to £1277, representing a payment of 2jd a cow, and including a grant of £BO for the purchase of plant. The subsidy of £4OOO placed on the Estimates, for 1934-35, which had not yet been approved, would yield to associations from Id to ljd a cow. It had been pointed out at group meetings that the association could not depend on a continuation of the Government subsidy, and it was therefore necessary to fix the scale of charges at a rate which would cover the costs. When the charges were reduced in 1931, the subsidy equalled lid a cow, but had now been decreased to ljd. During the last four seasons the association had received £8364 from the Government, and the testing charges had been reduced by £32,200 as compared with the old scale. The following charges would operate for 1935-36: Herds of 50 cows or over, herd fee, £3 17s 6d, plus 2s 6d a cow; herds of less than 50 cows, £2, plus 3s 3d a cow; herds under the alternate system, herd %s, £2, plus 2s 6d a cow. ' Messrs. W. H. Allen, Tirau, and R. A. Candy, Ngarua, the retiring directors, have been re-elected unopposed. The statement of accounts showed that the expenditure amounted to £19,923, and that £2832 had been transferred from the reduction in testing fees reserve account. The cost of testing had worked out. at 3s 10.79 d a cow.