HERD TESTING

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10942, 17 September 1928, Page 5

HERD TESTING

OPERATIONS IN BUSH DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETING. At a meeting of the Bush-Horo-whenua Herd Testing Association (Incorporated) held in Pahiatua on Saturday the annual report and balance-sheet was read and adopted. Arising out of the report, the secretary was instructed to ask all factories in the Bush district to nominate a representative to a meeting to bo held at a time and place suitable to all, such meeting to appoint an executive and to consider ways and means for tlie most efficient carrying on of the work of testing in the district.

Tlie secretary stated that increased production from individual herds meant increased output from factories supplied and that factory directors were realising that it was in the interests of all that the movement should be encouraged. Practically until the new executive is elected the work of testing will be carried on as in the past. The annual report read: “In presenting the annual report of the association for the season 1927-28 I do so with the explanation that the delay in the holding of the meeting lias been caused by the nonarrival of the cheque from the subsidy board. This subsidy was granted at the beginning of the season to the extent of £BOOO but owing to the representations made by the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation and others a further sum of approximately £I6OO was granted The actual payment to the associa tions concerned was only made on the Bth of this month. “This association’s share 'amounted to £l4O 18s 6d, being 2760 cows at Is per cow and 117 at 6d per cow.

“I might mention in passing that many associations have retained the whole of tli© grant to the credit of plant account rather than distribute it to individual members, as with this association. No charge for time or office expenses incurred has been made against the subsidy, with the exception of a charge of 2d per member for actual distribution cost.

“Payment of fees during the season was very lax in some cases and various amounts, totalling £34 4s 2d, are still outstanding. “At the commencement of the season the association was formed into an Incorporated Association under the Societies Act, 19G8, in order that it might become a member of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation and so participate in the privileges of such membership. Chief of these is the calf marking scheme which is proving of such immense value to breeders and purchasers in districts where it is in operation. Unfortunately the possibilities of the scheme have not been thoroughly realised in the Bush district. At the present time every large association in the Dominion is a federated member. The fee payable for membership is at the rate of Jd per com' tested each season. “The whole of the work of testing during the season has been done on contract, as the association, at the time of incorporation, was not in a position financially strong enough to purchase all the necessary apparatus or provide the necessary finance to carry on until the fees were due. While such a system has operated successfully in the past it is now considered in the best interests of the expansion of the movement in the district that the whole of the affairs of the association should be in the hands of the executive and that all apparatus should be the property of the association. This will necessitate an outlay of capital but no doubt arrangements could be ■made to spread such outlay over a number of years.

“In electing tlie executive for the ensuing year you are asked to bear this suggestion in mind because while all testing members have expressed themselves more than satisfied with the service rendered there is not the co-operation and enthusiasm for the testing movement in this district as is shown elsewhere. I am of the opinion, that a strong and representative executive could do much in this desired direction. “Practically no canvass for members for the coming season has taken place, with the result that membership remains practically stationary. The charge per cow for the season of eight tests lias been reduced to 4s per cow but in the event of the granting of a subsidy this will be retained by the association as the nett return for testing must not be lower than 4s Sd per coiv. “In conclusion, gentlemen, I have to thank those members who have given their practical assistance to the work of the association and sincerely hope that as a result of the annual meeting and its action further extensions will be made.”