FARM PRODUCTS

Southland Times, Issue 20897, 5 October 1929, Page 7

FARM PRODUCTS

DOMINION COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

HIDE MARKET DEPRESSED.

(Per United Press Association.)

Wellington, October 4.

A meeting of the Dominion Co-operative Farm Products Association, Ltd., was held in Wellington on Thursday when representatives from all over New Zealand were present from the following four cooperative groups handling calves on cooperative lines: The Waikato and Thames Valley Coop. Calf By Product Co., Ltd., the Patea Farmers’ Coop. Freezing Coop, Ltd., the South Island Dairy Association of New Zealand, Ltd., the National Dairy Association of New Zealand, Ltd. There were also present Mr C. Dicky, who had just returned from England and had the opportunity of looking into the federation’s interests in London together with Mr R. Ellison, who is London manager of the New Zealand Produce Association.

Reports from the various Continental markets indicated the hide market to be very depressed with the result that calfskins in value will be at least 30 per cent, lower than the rate ruling in 1928. A deputation waited on the Minister of Agriculture with the object of securing from his Department official recognition of the benefits of tagging all calves sent to freezing works for slaughter. The federation remarked to the Minister how essential it was that farmers should not forward to the freezing works immature calves and made it clear that with the tagging system one had a record as to who may supply calves of this nature. The Minister promised he would go into this question with his officers and advise the result later.

The chairman gave a review as to the benefits to farmers and to the Dominion as a whole through this new industry being in existence. He stated that prior to 1927 farmers only received the skin value for all calves slaughtered on the farm. The effect of commencement of business had consequent!} - meant an increase in wealth to the producers themselves of over £150,000 and in addition to that a further sum of over £lOO,OOO had been paid out to freezing company employees in New Zealand, to railways and other transport purposes.