Sales of Pedigree Cattle

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 67, 16 October 1930, Page 4

Sales of Pedigree Cattle

SUGGESTION FOR FRAMING OF RULES. COMPLICATED QUESTIONS. The committee of the Taranaki branch of the Friesian Association, at its meeting at Stratford yesterday ,discussed the matter of framing rules for governing auction Kales of pedigree cattle, but had no recommendation to make to ft be New Council. Plreseii|fc at the meeting were: Messrs- C. A. Marcbant (chairman), H. J. Marchant, H. E. Johnson, W. H. Slater, T- H. Richards, H. Johntson, A. J. Smart, A. Soffe t C. J. Allen and W. B. Morris-

The New Zealand Association forwarded the president’s report on rules for auction safes, which is to be presented to the annual meeting on October 20th. This report stat. ed that it had been suggested that rules similar to those in use iu Cereal, Britain should be adapted. There were, no doubt, occasional abuses, but, generally, Ney Zealand sales were very clean. Weak and ineffective rules would be useless, and if the rules were made too drastic the result would be to have all sales outside the rules. , Mr- H. E. Johnson said the matter was a very different one. It was generally regarded as a matter between the vendor and the purchaser.

Mr. H. J. March ant said the ( uies. tion of the rules had often 'been before the council, but nothing of very much value had been done. No possible rules could prevent a foolish buyer from bidding up and paying too much for an inferior animal Mr. H. Johnson thought that the fewer rules there were the better. The matter was one better left alone. Mr. Morris tusked if there were any specific cases of improper dealing. The chairman did not think there were, but the matter had been discussed at the last annual meeting of the Council- Personally, he thought that the auctioneers were so jealous of their reputation that they did everything possible to keep the sales straight. Mr. H. J. M a reliant said some felt that rules were required as to tho date of calving and regarding “trotting”, but when one sat down to devise means of dealing with tiiese problems, the difficulties h‘cume apparent. He doubted if the Association could legally refuse a transfer if a beast was sold at a sale held under tho generally-ac-cepted conditions. The council would be grateful for any practical suggest'd ns- They had discussed the matter at great length on several occasions. If a purchaser relied on a statement as to the soundness, age or breeding of a beast, the statement should he put in writing before the deal was completed. Ho understood that it had been held hv the law courts that this must ho done in order to enforce a guarantee. Mr. H. E. Johnson thought more would he done by issuing suggestions for the guidance of buyers than by framing rules. Hr. H. J. Mareliant said that the British rules provided that a case could not he referred to the council unless both vendor and purchaser were agreeable, so that the matter was not taken much further. At the last 'annual meeting of the New Zealand council it was hoped that something might he done in the way of classification. The letter was ‘received', no resolution being -passed. Mr. H. E. Johnson said he would he at the annual meeting of the council, and the chairman said that day s dis-

mission would lie \ai guide to him as to the branch’s feeling on the question. ROYAL SHOW. The chairman reported jfchat ten replies had been received to the circular sent out in reference to cattle for the Royal Show. Mr. C. J. Schumacher wrote that he had a yearling hull which might be suitable, and Mr. V\. H. Slater wrote that he could send a yearling heifer. Some of the replies stated that the writers could not get stock ready in time, and one isaid exhibition was too expensive for him. TESTING. Mr. H. Johnson isaid the testing system was wrong as regards cheese The test should be for casein and not for butter-fat. Mr. H. E. Johnson said the De(partmeilt Avals quite aware of! the position, hut Avould not take any I notice. STANDARDISATION. Mr. H. J. Marcbant stated that only 40 per cent, of the cheese now being graded in Taranaki was standardised. The chairman said the dairy industry had got quite out of control Of the Director of the Dairy Division. Mr. Johnson: Ho must take his gruel. Mr. H. E. Johnson said the Division Avas now being a little more strict than in the past. The chairman said the Division should have been stricter years ago. Departures from the regulations in isolated cases had been overlooked and such practices had become general. It Avas disquieting to ■ see prices so loav, and everything possible should be done to improve the position. Ncav Zealand could not afford to make anything hut the heist quality cheese. People generally were beginning to realise that tlie ever-increasing tost Avas not in the best interests of the cheese industry. CLASSIFICATION. Mr. Smart asked Avhat ideas the two Council members had in reference to classification of herds. Mr. H. E. Johnson asked Avhefcher it avcus Avorth going on Avith, in view of the difficulty of finance.

Mr. H. J. Marchant mentioned that the suggestion had been made that a start might he made by classification of tho herdf> offered for sale. Ho had 110 doubt that within a few years there would he an effective scheme of classification, in operation. Some breeders were nut competent judges and would he glad of the guidance which classification would give. He thought that classification would lead to a great improvement of the breed, very quickly. Mr. H. E. Johnson said tho inspection would need to he almost continuous. At the outside an inspection would be necessary everythree years. Mr. Smart thought the cost would he considerable. Mr. H. J. Marchant said that it would probably mean the permanent engagement of a skilled man. The chairman said that any step calculated to maintain and improve iho breed must not he neglected. Mr. H. J. Marchant said this was all the more necessary in view of the fact that Russia ,which produced a large proportion of tho world’s cheese, might flood the British market with cheese in the same manner as she had flooded the wheat market in America.