DISPOSAL Of BOBBY CALVES

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1237, 3 July 1947, Page 3

DISPOSAL Of BOBBY CALVES

WAIKATO FEDERATION Arrangements For New Season Delegates from Piako, Te Awamutu, Tauranga, Hamilton, Cambridge, Pukekohe and Otoroha.aga bctoby calf pools attended a meeting of the Waikato federation. The chairman, M". E. Palliser, Waihou, reported on a meeting of the New Zealand central executive in Wellington, when representations were made to the economic stabilisation commission for a change in the basis of disposal of bobby calf skins. . Under the arrangement which prevailed in the 1946 season, proceeds cf sales of skins in excess of 32d per lb casked f.oib. wore paid into the hobby calf pool stabilisation account.

The new arrangement provides that a fixed charge of 6s par skin will be payable into that account. Provided export values remain at the same level as for last season; the same average price as was received last season will be received by producers again this season, but the new basis will restore the incentive for pools and exporters to secure highest prices, as under the flat levy system pools will be in a position to pass on to producers the advantage of sales made above average prices. Question of Subsidy Mr. Palliser stated that the chairman of the commission reaffirmed the agreement that if through a drop in prices during the season th® average payout to pro* ducers fell below the present basis of 32d per lib for skins, the deficit could be withdrawn from the stabilisation account. , The arrangement would continue for subsidising skins required by local tanners, th e subsidy to be provided from the stabilisation account amounting to the difference between 24Sdi per lb f.oJb. and expert value, while these skins would be subsidised also from the consolidated fund to the extent of the difference between 16.18 d per lb and 24id per lb. Mr. Palliser advised that the central executive would resist further demands for an increased number of skins for the tanners, above last season’s allocation of 250,000. Delegates referred to recent published criticism relative to last season’s arrangement with the stabilisation commission, providing for an increase in ceiling price and the subsidising of tanners’ requirements l by the industry from 24id to 32d per lb. Principle of Subsidy Mr. Palliser said 1 that while the executive disapproved strongly of the principle of this subsidy, and had protested at the increasing demands of tanners above the original yearly allocation of 50,000 skins, at the same time the arrangement made had to be viewed as a whole and the net result was that the industry retained the right of a free and unrestricted market for the exportable surplus of 650,000 skins, and further had returned to producers approximately £260,000 more than in the previous season. Under stabilisation regulations no other section of producers of skins and hides had been able to pass on to producers any of the increased returns 1 resulting from l the lifting of overseas price controls. On the motion of Messrs. J, Morrow (Hamilton.) and A. S. Bryant (Te Awamutu) the meeting expressed full confidence in the central executive, and decided to bring to its notice the criticisms 1 made with the request that the full facts he stated and published.

Standardised Accounts Mr. Palliser felt that Waikato’s record kill last season of 225,210 calves from the Auckland province would be exceeded this year. New herds were being brought into production, and it was expected that more live Calves would be produced as a result of the service for vaccination against contagious abortion provided by the Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with veterinary clubs. Correspondence dealt with the difficulties arising in obtaining true comparisons of the returns of pools by reason of the Varying methods of accounting adopted by different organisations, the Putaruru pool indicating- it would support any steps taken towards adoption of standardised accounts. Mr. Palliser s'aid the federation always had strongly advocated the adoption cf standardised accounts and statistics and the matter rested in the hands of the export division of the Internal Marketing Department as the bobby calf marketing regulations empowered the department. to adapt the necessary measures for standardisation.