BOBBY CALF POOL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 66, Issue 5603, 9 April 1943, Page 4

BOBBY CALF POOL

COMMITTEE MEEING HELD LAST YEAR’S OPERATIONS

A review of the past year’s operations was made at a recent meeting of the Te Awamutu Calf Pool Committee, when the annual report and balance-sheet were presented. Those present included the chairman (Mr B. C. O’Connor) and Messrs A. E. Bryant, W. Gordon Parker, W. Perrin, S. H. West, A. R. Weal, E. Hopping, and A- S. Wyllie. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs J. T. Young, A. F. Perrott, and W,. A. Godfrey. The chairman explained that the Government had decided that, in view of the economy restrictions in relation to tyres and petrol, general meetings should, not be held unless it was thought very necessary, and that present committees remain in office. The report and balance-sheet were submitted and approved for publication after a very thorough discussion on all essential points. A surplus of £75 on the year’s working was carried forward. This was slightly less than that of the previous year, which was £9l 12s. In view of the necessity to finance the summer pool it was necessary tc keep a small amount in hand. A very full report, the chairman said, would be attached to the bal-ance-sheet, so that every supplier would have an opportunity to become conversant with the working of the pool. Strong exception was taken to the continued compulsory subsidising of local tanners by farmers, and a resolution to this effect was sponsored by Messrs Perrin and Parker. Mr O’Connor was re-elected chairman and Mr Bryant deputy-chairman, and they are to be delegates to the Waikato Federation. Mr G. O. Jourdain was re-elected secretary, and Messrs Armstrong and Kelly were appointed auditors. The chairman, deputy chairman, and secretary were appointed an executive committee. ANNUAL. REPORT The chairman’s report read, inter alia:— We have pleasure in submitting a report on the seventh year of the pool’s operations. A total of 30,764 calves was collected and marketed during the year, including the summer pool, this being the highest yet reached, and exceeded the previous total by £63. Following the usual practice of the pool, the marketing was done through the executive of the Waikato Federated Calf Pool. As the balance-sheet shows, the gross return for the season reached the record total of £18,780 17s 2d. averaging 12s 0.57 d per calf. Following our practice, all calves were processed at the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company’s works at Horotiu. Your committee was convinced that this was the best method of safeguarding the producers’ interests in the long run, believing that, apart from the fact that this support of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company has the effect of keeping the killing rate down, and made possible the good returns for calves over the last two years. This fact is freely recognised by other organisations. Owing to the increased number of calves handled by the Waikato Federation, support was extended by the Waikato executive to the works of R. and W. Hellaby and W. and R. Fletcher, Ltd.

In. the previous year the Waikato Federation handled 219 545 calves, an increase of 22,000 head over the previous year, due mainly to other pools joining the Federation, including Opo. tiki, Pokeno, Pukekohe, and Katikati. A small pool, Waipa West, saw fit to market its own calves independently. The killing allowances, representing a saving to the companies concerned in office and field supervision, were received.

The largest portion of the pool’s income was derived from skins, and as they showed an enhanced value they had a decided bearing on the satisfactory figures shown hereunder. We are pleased to report that the market is still satisfactory.

In accordance with national policy, veils were disposed of to the New Zealand Rennet Company at a nominal figure of 4Jd. It will be remembered that the allowance to the cheese industry by the British Government was credited to the dairy industry account, out of which the 2s subsidy was paid to bobby calf suppliers in lieu of the ban on export of veal. By the sale of veal the return to producers was increased by Is 9d per calf. Shortly after the season began the Government decided to allow the export of veal, and out of a total of 877,469 calves passed at the New Zealand works 714,069 were shipped overseas at a gross return of 7s 6d per head, less 2s subsidy and 2s killing and freezing charges. It will be seen that the Government is keeping a substantial sum in reserve. Carcases processed for manure showed a negligible return, the revenue being eaten up in power and labour charges. Sundries, including livers, hearts, kidneys, and sweetbreads, showed an increased return on the previous year.

Suppliers are seriously penalised by having to supply local tanners with skins at a price considerably below export parity. Your committee takes strong exception to this practice, which is being steadily extended each year. The committee wishes to point out, however, that it unanimously approves the principle of subsidisation as obtains in Britain, whereby the consumer is subsidised by direct grant from the national exchequer. After this season’s operations your committee is fully convinced that its system of payment, namely, live weight at the gate, is the only fair, equitable method. Some pools probably with a view to window-dressing and building up the average payment pay out on the basis of heavy and light calves. Under this method the producer of heavy stock would be under a serious disadvantage, and it can be shown that some suppliers would lose up to 5s per head. Owing to the war- situation the Minister of Marketing has decided that existing pool committees shall continue in office for a further period of twelve months, and that annual Ken-

eral meetings shall not be held. As an instance of saving in petrol, etc., the total mileage for one full complete committee is 287 miles.

Owing to Mr L. B. Marx having joined the Air Force and Mr C. Old having left the district, Messrs W. A. Godfrey and A. S. Wlyllie have been appointed to the committee.

The chairman and Mr J. T. Young represented the pool on the Waikato executive, and the chairman was also, on the selling committee of the Waikato committee.