STIRLING HERD-TESTING GROUP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20473, 30 July 1928, Page 12

STIRLING HERD-TESTING GROUP.

ANNUAL MEETING. (From Otje Own Correspondent.) BALCLUTHA, July 28. The first annual meeting of the Stirling Herd-testing Group, which is affiliated to the Southland Herd-testing Association, was held last night in the board room of the dairy factory at Stirling. Mr A. A. Jenson presided over an attendance of about 50, including several members from Paretai and Kaitaugata. Mr H. Oswin, secretary and manager of the Southland Association, was also present, together with Mr Gordon Fairbairn, the tester for the group. The chairman said' that it was a matter for congratulation that in its first year the group had come second on the list for the best average test in the association. The speaker referred to the great assistance rendered by Messrs Oswm and Fairbairn, and also the local helpers, who had given their services gratis, and stated that the balance sheet showed that they had come out nearly square financially. • The balance sheet presented showed that the receipts of the group for the year ending June 30 were £320 6s 9d, and the expenditure was £275 11s. leaving a credit on that date of £44 15s 9d. Against that there were liabilities which reduced the credit at date to £3 8s Id, without counting the Government subsidy of Is a cow and 6d where the owner took his own samples which, was yet to come. The biggest item on the revenue side was the testing fees, which, at 5s a cow, amounted to £315 19s % 3d, and on the expenditure side the tester’s salary, £275 11s. Mr Oswin explained the balance sheet of the group in detail, and also referred to the association balance sheet. In referring to the. Government subsidy, he said that it was unfair that this subsfdy was not paid in the case of an owner not having six consecutive tests, which, under certain circumstances, was an impossibility. This was a matter the association was taking up with the dairy division. The Stirling group was now in a sound position, having all its plant paid for, and it had made a splendid showing in coming second to Edendale in the average test. Stirling’s average was 236.901 b fat per cow for 227 days under test, and Edendale’s was 2441 b fat. while the association’s average was 224.981 b fat for 221 days. To show what was possible, he might say that one herd in the association of 70 cows had come out witn an average of 2701 b butter-fat. The annual report and balance sheet were adopted. Mr A, A. Jenson was re-elected chairman, and the following commitee was re-elected: Messrs H. C. Anderson (secretary), P. Hippie, C. Murdoch Cuthbertson, C. Weir, and 6. F. Bisset. Mr Oswin urged that the group should empower its delegate to the association conference to vote for the Government subsidy being divided pro rata among members according to the numoer of cows.—Carried. The chairman explained that Mr Fairbairn had been reappointed tester for ithe ensuing season. It was further agreed, on the motion of Messrs A. Anderson and Hippie, to engage Mr Fairbairn as organiser for a fortnight.—The ''bariman stated in this connection that there were a good few new members in prospect, and if these joined up it would mean a group and a-half for the district, and the tester would require an assistant to take samples. Mr Stiveo raised the question of the tester attending to unbranded cows, which he said ( enabled unscrupulous people to unload “ plasters ” on their neighbours. He thought all cows that went under test should be branded, and then if they were exposed for sale people could.see that they were culls. , Mr Oswin said that a lot of owners objected to branding their cows. Mr Fairbairn explained that all whose cows had been tested were members of the group, and no private herds had been tested. The secretary said that the association could not make branding compulsory. Mr Stiven: I thought branding was to prevent the sale of “ plasters.” Mr J. C. Anderson said he thought the association should insist on a registered “ dud ” brand, so that the animals could be recognised at sales. " Mr Oswin said that had been advocated in the North Island, but some owners objected, for the reason that there were too many “ dud ” cows about. He had tried to get the Southland Association to take the matter up, but had failed. However, the meeting could instruct its chairman to advocate the proposal at the next meeting of directors of the association. Mr J. C. Anderson moved accordingly, and said something of the kind was imperative if people were not to be taken in.—Mr J. G. Weir seconded, but said he thought it would require legislation to make it general for the whole Hominion. The chairman said he had had a talk with Mr W. M. Singleton (director of the dairy division), on the subject, and

the latter said the stumbling block would be to define when a cow was really a “ dud.” He knew a man whose herd only averaged 1301 b of fat, and yet that man considered he had good cows. The motion was defeated. SOCIAL EVENING. After the annual meeting a social evening which took the form of a smoke concert, with short toast list, was held. In replying to the toast of the Southland Herdtesting Association, Mr Oswin gave the credit for introducing the group system of testing into Southland to Mr G. R. Herron, of Pukerau, and said that Stirling was easily the most enthusiasticgroup in the association. In referring to the success of the Federation of Herdtesting Associations, in obtaining a subsidy of £BOO from the Government, he stated that it had been supplemented by £ISOO this year, and the federation intended to approach the Minister for £14,000 in; order to give a better subsidy to all testing associations. The toast of the chairmen of the Stirling, Kaitangata, and Paretai Factories was responded to by Messrs ,J. G. Weir (for the chairman, who was not present), George Aitchison, and Colin Murdoch. In proposing the toast of “ Factory Managers,” Mr J. C. Anderson stated that when he was a member of Parliament many years ago he was looked upon as “the father of dairying in Otago,” and in this connection he paid a warm tribute to the Sawers Bros., who had been brought from Canada by a later Government to act as dairy instructors. In concluding a speech couched in reminiscent vein, Mr Anderson said that if dairy producers in New Zealand could increase the butter-fat production per cow by 1001 b a year it would mean an addition to the annual export wealth of the .cbpntry of no less a sum than £10,000,000. The toast was responded to by Mr Jenson, manager, Kaitangata Dairy Factory, who insisted that in order to get a good quality cheese there must be a good percentage of butter-fat in the milk. In proposing the toast of the tester (Mr Fairbairn) Mr C. Murdoch took advantage of the occasion to present Mr Fairbairn with a handsome pipe and case from the members of, the group as a slight token of their appreciation. ” Factory Secretaries ” was proposed by Mr J. 6. Weir, and responded to by Mr Hay, of Kaitangata, and Mr J. C. Anderson, who, in the absence of Mr J. M. Doggarfc, secretary of Stirling Dairy Factory Company, eulogised the latter’s services to the company. The following contributed to the musical programme:—Messrs D. Marshall (song), A. Anderson (recitation), A. Jenson, Kaitangata (songs), George Anderson (songs), Giorge Aitchison (songs), and J. G. Weir (song).