BOBBY CALF INDUSTRY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4056, 3 June 1938, Page 5

BOBBY CALF INDUSTRY

FORMATION OF DISTRICT POOLS. WELL-ATTENDED MEETING OF FARMERS. The meeting of district farmers convened by the To Awamutu branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to consider the formation of one or mere bobby calf pools for efficient marketing, held in the Oddfellows’ Hall cn Thursday morning was attended by well over one hundred farmers from all parts of the district. The president of the branch. Mr D. H. Cavers, occupied the chair and with him were Messrs G. Thompson, secretary of the Auckland Farmers ’ Freezing Company, and R. A. Candy (of Ngarua). a director of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., and the New Zealand Herd Testing Association, Ltd., and chairman of the Thames Valley Federation of Calf Clubs, operating the bobby calf marketing scheme in that area. Among others present were officers of the Farmers’ Union branch; Mr A. J. Sinclair, secretary-manager of the To Awamutu Co-op. Dairy Co., and Mr J. T. Young, a director of the New Zealand Co-op. Dairy Co., Ltd. The chairman gave a brief outline of the activities and investigations of the district committee set up last seasen, and of the Government’s declared interest in the industry. He said that on the proposal to create a national organisation only 23 per cent, of the farmers recorded their votes; hence the decision o f the Government not to interfere. The local committee had withheld definite action until there was some definite indication of how the “pirate” carrier could be eliminated. EXPERIENCE AT NGARUA. Mr Candy, who was warmly welcomed, also briefly traced the developments in the Ngarua district from about the middle of last season (details have already been published). He went on to give some details of the operations of several buying firms, and the varying prices offered to the farmers.

Continuing, Mr Candy told of the Ngarua farmers’ preference for cooperation in marketing, where 100 per cent, of the farmers signed up and the committee accepted a tender for carting the calves, numbering about 16,000 to 17,000 for the season. Success at Ngarua caused neighbouring district farmers to seek inclusion in the scheme.

In his view, respecting Te Awamutu district, it would probably be preferable to have pools operating over special territories, with a community of interest, and a federation of all to operate the marketing scheme. All the pools would have representation on that central committee.

He recommended a system, not of payment for calves picked up at farm gates, but "ayment cn the calves received at the works. This eliminated or reduced the forwarding of immature calves. Handy-sized trucks were used by the carriers for collection of the calves. Fewer inspectors lessened the overhead expense, and thus it was incumbent on farmers to only send calves that would pass the grade. The Auckland Transport Authority would accept the federation’s recommendation in the matter of accepting a carrier’s tender. A MINIMUM WEIGHT. Mr Candy said that now the whole of the Morrinsville and Te Aroha district was linked up in one federation. This constituted an efficient marketing force. Perhaps the same scheme could be inaugurated for Te Awamutu district. Ngarua pool fixed the minimum weight for accepted calves at 50 lbs, and he explained the benefits. All calves are paid for on a weight basis; no payment is made at the farm gate. Ngarua farmers have realised the advantage. Advances were made in August and October, with a final pay - ment. at the end of the season. A uniform price would prevail throughout the season, irrespective of market fluctuations, for skins and veal. Individual pools, where consignments went from one point, would permit of reducing freight charges. Mr Candy said one essential to success was goodwill, and he stressed the desirability of having a voluntary organisation at least representative of 80 per cent, of the farmers. There must, he said, be some secretarial costs, and it was recommended that negotiations be entered into with the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Co., Ltd. Concluding, Mr Candy expressed the view that if the farmers themselves did not co-operate the Government would take control of the industry. AT THE FREEZING WORKS. Mr Thompson, by invitation, gave the meeting some information bearing on the handling of calves at the freezing works and the subsequent marketing. His firm was not concerned with collection at farm gates, but it had facilities for dealing with the calves after collection. The Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Co., was entirely a provincial farmers’ enterprise and he explained the constitutions and policy of the company to remove some misconceptions gathered from remarks by competitors’ representatives. The Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Co., was always willing to give advice to individual or collective farmers on prices ruling and expected, and went on to say that if his company had a greater percentage of calves the per head charge could be reduced—to the advantage of the farmer.

If, continued Mr Thompson, it was decided to form a Te Awamutu district pool arrangements could be made for consigning the carcases as a co-operative venture, or sell outright to the exporting firms at the works with payment fortnightly. MANY QUESTIONS.

To a question, Mr Candy said Ngarua marketed on their own collective account for the greater part of the season, and later sold the balance by tender to the exporting firms, that course ensuring the cleaning-up of accounts without long delay. The whole result proved quite satisfactory to the farmers. Mr Thompson said his company was

not competing with the exporting firms, but would consign for farmers* pools. Cartage rates were to the rail, not to the works. Secretarial work cost about 3id per calf, said Mr Candy. It was pointed out that locally last year the all-in cost to farmers was Is Gd per calf. Mr Thompson said the Auckland Farmers Freezing Co., was well able to cope with all the calves from this district. Both Horotiu and Southdown works were well-equipped. To another question, he flatly denied a story that exporting firms receive a commission on all meat shipped from the freezing works to overseas market. AVERAGE NET PAYMENT. Mr Candy, asnwering other questioners, said the average net payment to farmers for last season’s pool was slig-htly over 9s lid per calf. Payment to farmers was not a universal price irrespective of the size and weight of calves. The pool committed fixed the prices of advances according to weight grades from time to time. The freezing company would advance 75 per cent, of the London market rate ruling, and this proved acceptable. The committee, in deciding on advances, was guided by the London market price. At this stage Mr A. S. Wyllie quoted the wording of the proposed ag*reement by farmers to send all the calves they have for sale to the pool, for the current season. Mr Cavers said the calves would be weighed at the farm gates. The committee would, or could, consider whether collecting lorries should go on to the farm to uplift calves. There may be special circumstances; but it was a local matter. DISTRICT POOL FORMED Mr Wyllie proposed that a pool be established for Te Awamutu district. —Mr W. G. Neill seconded. The proposal provided for an executive giving representation to every part of the district. The chairman said the provisional committee had details of proposed boundaries of the pool district, with also the. approximate number of calves that would be available. If the pool was decided upon, tenders could be called for collecting calves on all the defined routes.

Mr N. B. Fletcher supported, saying this was one opportunity for the farmers to conduct their own affairs. If they were not capable of doing so they should not be farming. The proposal was carried unanimously. COMMITTEE CONVENORS. Then followed the appointment of the committee convenors, from which an executive would be formed. Korakonui district: Mt W. S. Hopping. Puahue-Hairini: Mr G. W. Parker. Te Kawa-Pokuru: Mr W. G. Neill. Te Mawhai: Mr Perrott. Paterangi: Mr C. J. Pierce. Pukeatua: Mr N. B. Fletcher. Wharepuhunga - Ngaroma: Referred to Mr Cavers to arrange for. Ngutunui: Mr T. Jordan. Frontier Road: Mr J. T. Young. Ngahape: Mr Cecil Old. Arohena: Mr A. R. Weal is to be asked to act. Harapepe - Te Rore - Pirongia: Mr Hartley Hall. Parawera - Kihikihi - Orakau: Mr APen Bryant. Ohaupo - Te Awamutu: Mr B. C. O’Connor. Kaipaki - Te Awamutu: Mr Pierce is to contact that area, to ascertain if Kaipaki desires inclusion. Te Rahu: Mr C. J. Flay. MAORI REPRESENTATION. Rev. Hapimana was appointed as advisory member of the committee as specially representing Maori farmers. The meeting unanimously elected Mr Cavers as convenor of the committee. The committee was given power to add any other districts for inclusion in the Te Awamutu pool. It was mentioned that Otorohanga farmers contemplate also forming a pool. Mr G. Whibley, of Otorohanga district. said Maihiihi settlers were seeking to form a pool, and they preferred to avoid overlapping. Te Awamutu should have Ngahape, and Otorohanga should have Mang*aorongo and Maihiihi. NO PIRACY. The chairman said the Ngahape group area proposed extended to Mr J. Mclntyre’s gate. There was positively no desire to act as “pirates,” and the plan was to operate'only in districts where last year calves were sent to Te Awamutu. Committee convenors for each locality were asked to keep the number on each committee small, and to prepare for a meeting of the representatives from all parts in twelve days time. 30,000 CALVES ? To a question., the chairman said that he estimated the number of calves to be collected in the Te Awamutu district at between 30,000 and 35.000 calves—which was about half the number of dairy cows. Mr Candy said Ngarua’s pool could not have succeeded last season had it not been for the whole-hearted cooperation of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Co., and he thought Te Awamutu should follow the lead. It was unanimously decided to enlist the co-operation of that company. The meeting concluded with hearty votes of thanks to Messrs Candy and Thompson for attending the meeting and giving so much useful information, and the usual compliment to the chair.

A short meeting of the conveners was then held to ensure a quick and complete canvass of the district, each committee convener being given details of his area.