BOBBY CALF TRADE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3929, 21 July 1937, Page 7

BOBBY CALF TRADE

CONFERENCE IN TE AWAMUTU RATIONALISATION SUPPORTED A conference of the various parties interested in the bobby calf trade was held in Te Awamutu on Monday night at the invitation of the local branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. There was a representative attendance, delegates being present from the Farmers’ Union, dairy companies, Master Carriers’ Association and Waina County Council. NEED FOR RATIONALISATION, Mr A. T. Bryant (president of the Te Awamutu branch of the Farmers’ Union), who presided, briefly welcomed the delegates and said that as the result of a conference with Mr E. J. Phelan (Transport Licensing Authority), last week, the Farmers’ Union had convened a meeting of all parties interested to discuss the advisability of appointing a committee, representative of all concerned, to bring about the rationalisation of the bobby calf trade in the district. This had been done in Southland and Manawatu and, in a lesser degree, in the Morrinsville district, and similar ■action could be taken with advantage in the Te Awamutu district. At this stage Mr G. O. Jourdain was appointed secretary. Continuing, Mr Bryan.t said it was felt that the trade could be handled by committees in certain areas. At present they had carriers going round, with the result that five or six lorries traversed the one route, halfloaded only. This knocked the roads abcut. It was felt that this competition proved that there was “something in it,” yet the farmer was definitely entitled to more than he was getting. The collection of the calves could be arranged so as to be more economical, so that the farmer’ wouh get the benefit of the reduction ;n cartage costs. Mr W. Hodgson supported the idea of setting up a committee. M - Phelan had not said that they would get a closed area, but that he would do what the meeting that night wanted. THE POOLING SYSTEM. Mi- H. Anderson, officer of the Transport Department, Auckland, said the first problem was who should arrange the pool; obviously, he thought the farmers. There was nothing to prevent that. So long as the present scheme prevailed it was impossible not to grant temporary cartage licenses on a big scale. They should get in touch with the farmers and then if pirate carriers came in, the licensing authority could deal with them, as that body had power to review licenses. He did not think there would be any difficulty in the pool disposing of the produce.

“ORDER OUT OF CHAOS.” Mr A. J. Sinclair said the present scheme was chaotic and rationalisation was essential to eliminate overlapping etc. It was obvious the problem would never be solved without the whole-hearted co-operation of the farmers and a compulsory pool. If the latter was not brought into operation, it would simply mean that one lorry carrier would offer a higher price and kill the whole scheme. The Primary Products Marketing Act, empowered the Government to bring about this compulsion. He thought the Dairy Board could be given powers, probably immediately, to control the bobby calf trade; but could net be expected to do the detailed work. It would become the central vehicle and then local committees could operate; in Te Awamutu, for instance, the two dairy companies and representatives of the farmers. A committee, representing such interests would be in an ideal position to control the pool, eliminate overlapping etc.

There would be no chance of the buyers “putting their heads together” and beating the farmer on the price. The Government issued meat export licenses and could prevent that, if it were ever attempted. Mr Sinclair said a pool established in the Ngaru district by Mr Candy had proved successful, with the result that the price paid the farmers was in excess of the schedule of any of the present buyers. <After a round-table discussion, Mr Sinclair moved that a committee be set up to approach the Department of Agrieluture with a view to bringing about rationalisation in the Te Awamutu district. In doing so, he said he was convinced that the farmers would speedily realise the benefit of a pool and many would want to come in, just as had happened at Ngaru. They could make a start in one district—say Hairini or Ngahape—and he was sure it would be successful. Mr E. J. Pearce seconded the motion, saying that under present conditions it was nqt business, but a war between the carriers. PROPOSAL SUPPORTED. Mr J. T. Young gave strong support to the proposition. He gave elaborate details of prices, etc. and submitted that these proved conclusively that rationalisation was essential in the test interests of the farmer. His company (the New Zealano Cooperative Dairy Company), would support such a scheme, the inauguration of which would mean better prices to the farmer.

Mr H. Jepson, of Hamilton, said the Master Carriers were whole-heartedly in favour of putting the’ industry oil a rationalised footing. The motion was carried and the following committee appointed Messrs. J. T. Young and A. J. Sinclair (dairy companies), W. Hodgson, A. T. Bryant, E. J. Pearce, C. J. Flay and D. H. Cavers (Farmers’ Union).

A CARTAGE PROBLEM. Mr Jepson said that the Society for the Prevention of'Cruelty to Animals was attempting to restrict the number of calves carried on a lorry and this would have an influence on the price of carting. Mr Hodgson pretested against this attitude. No farmer worth his salt would let stock be knocked about. A carriers’ delegate informed the meeting that the S.P.C.A. wanted two and a-half feet of s"ace for each calf with three or four partitions in each trucking. However the carriers were

satisfied that carting could be done cheaper under a zoning system. Mr Sinclair remarked on the importance of this issue on freight charges and it was decided to make representations to the Licensing Authority accordingly. Mr G. S. Clarke voiced the appreciation of the meeting at the action of the Farmers’ Union in convening the meeting and Mr Bryant appropriately acknowledged the. compliment. The committee met immediately afterwards, and consulted with Mr Anderson, transport officer, who undertook to place their views before the proper authorities, especially the Licensing Authority in regard to cartage charges. CARTAGE RATES FIXED. A TEMPORARY AGREEMENT. A temporary agreement with regard to the fixation of prices for the carriage of bobby calves was reached at a meeting ot the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority at Auckland yesterday. It was attended by representatives of carrying firms from all parts of the licensing district, representatives of the New Zealand Farmers Union, and buyers. The No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr E. J. Phelan, presided, and he was assisted by the No. 2 Licensing Authority, Mr J. P. O. Skoglund. The terms of the agreement reached by a committee comprising four representatives from each of the sections interested provided that in the event of a pooling or zoning scheme being put into operation in any district the cartages rates for six weeks from July 20 or for a lesser period should be Is 3d .a calf. In the event of a bobby calf pool being formed, it was decided that this agreement should become null and void.

The agreement was signed by representatives ot the Now Zealand Farmers’ Union and by representatives of the Licensed Carriers’ Association. Representatives of the buyers abstained from voting, .and on the recommendation of Mi- .Phelan a further discussion between carriers and buyer. took place with a view to fixing the buying commission where buying is carried out by the carriers on behalf of the buying firms. After a discussion lasting nearly two hours, this conference ended without a decision being reached.

In congratulating' the committee on reaching a decision in regard to the fixation of cartage rates, Mr Phelan pointed out that the present system of collection would remain In existence until pooling schemes were brought into operation. He intimated that the agreement had the approval of Mr Skoglund and himself, as licensing authorities, and it would take effect immediately.