BOBBY CALF POOL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4064, 24 June 1938, Page 5

BOBBY CALF POOL

ARRANGEMENTS WELL FORWARD. Members present at the local Farmers’ Union meeting yesterday expressed gratification at the progress of the scheme for a bobby calf pool in this district. The president, Mr D. H. Cavers, reported that much time had been occupied since last meeting in developing the bobby calf pool scheme and the annual reunion. Refering to the calf pool, Mr Cavers said over 80 per cent of calves in the whole district had been signed for, and it was expected that tenders for carting would be completed by the middle of next week. Farmers were practically 100 per cent in favour of the pooling scheme, and the special executive committee was doing everything possible to finalise matters. Application had been made to the Department for gazetting of the district pools’ zone and authority obtained for the procedure to be continued. In the discussion that followed it was indicated that prices obtained by farmers would probably not be as high as appeared likely earlier in the season, due largely to the overseas market prices receding. Mr Cavers proceeded to give an outline of the moves towards federation of several Waikato and King Country pools. The scheme would definitely be in active operation by Ist July next. To a question, Mr Cavers said the number of calves already signed for exceeded 26,000 for the season. The refusals by district farmers to co-op-erate constituted only 3 to 4 per cent of the calves available. Some farmers had not yet been contacted with. Further questions elicited the information that the Department was whole-heartedly in favour of the pools, and that the local committee’s appointed carriers would be the only people permitted to cart calves. As there were 80 per cent of farmers in the pool the Department would enforce co-operation on the remainder. Nobody else would be permitted to cart bobby calves from the farms, but where calves were retained for breeding purposes the prohibition would not apply. Mr Cavers said a plan was being evolved whereby the chairmen of the pools would meet in conference from time to time, thus ensuring uniform prices. To a question, Mr Cavers said the organisation could prevent any attempt to break the pool by way of marketing heifer calves at the sale yards. Mr A. S. Wyllie congratulated the committee upon its energy and the successful outcome, and said it was very gratifying to the Union, which had sponsored the movement. Mr Cavers expressed thanks to all the members and non-members of the Union who had canvassed their own districts, often at much inconvenience.

The meeting placed on record its appreciation of the services rendered. Mr A. W. Signal sought information as to the number of bobby calves rejected at the killing works through being affected by facial eczema, and the president gave what information was available, indicating that the percentage of rejects was much smaller than had been stated. He predicted that the incidence of the disease would decrease as the season advanced.