TESTING DAIRY HERDS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1929, Page 6

TESTING DAIRY HERDS

i SOUTH TARANAKI ASSOCIATION. SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR. The annual meeting of the South Taranaki Herd Testing Association was held at Hawera on Saturday, Mr. S. C. Tonks presiding over an attendance of about 20 members. The secretary (Mr. E. N. Bardsley) explained that preliminary expenditure in connection with the establishment of the association had been considerable, though everything had been handled most economically. The fees received for testino- had amounted to about £l3OO, and they had received the Government subsidy of £268. The accounts showed a credit balance of £5B on the vear’s working. In moving the adoption of the accounts the chairman said the association’s first season had certainly been successful, 5323 cows having been tested. The farmers must have realised the value of testing, especially the importance of having herds tested by an official instead of a share-milker, as often happened. The share-milker was not interested in keeping records, but the farmer wanted them, for it meant a great deal to him to know which were his best cows and what calves to keep. The 'association had had to have the testing done under contract, the cost for general organisation and 6d a cow for clerical work, out of the fee of 5e a cow. The arrangement had worked well, the secretary having handled the whole business very successfully. Though there was £lOO outstanding, it was expected that this would come in, the idea being that farmers should give orders on the factories. The fact that there was a separate testing association at Patea had been considered by the executive and it was hoped an amalgamation might be brought about. The Patea association had tested 3400 cows in two groups, and the linking of the two bodies would make for strength. The result of amalgamtion probably would be a reduction hi the cost of testing to something less than ss. The South Taranaki executive hoped a conference would be arranged. The executive forwarded a recommendation to the effect that testing should be carried on during the new season under the same conditions as last season and that it would be in the best interest of the association to have its secretary and office at Hawera. The chairman suggested it would be wise to refer the proposal back to the executive for consideration in connection with the projected negotiations with the Patea Association, and this course was adopted. -On the secretary’s asking that members should assist' him in canvassing for new members Mr. G. W. Gane remarked that the association should look to the dairy companies for help. He thought the chairman of each company should be asked to send out with notices of the annual meeting circulars appealing to shareholders to enrol in the association, and at the meeting the actual enrolment should take place. The secretary answered a number of questions concerning details of testing. In regard to the marking of calves he said there had not been any refusal to mark, but there was a difficulty in respect of the instrument used. Endeavours were being made to obtain a smaller instrument, and calves from cows qualifying for a certificate of record would be marked. The chairman said calf marking would be very important, for he saw the time coming when special sales of marked calves would be held and a calf from a cow with a certificate of record would command a good price. A calf from a grade cow in the Waikato had sold at 17 guineas, and newly-born calves were saleable at £5 to £6 when their dams had good records. The executive had definitely decided to have nine tests, instead of eight, taken during the coming season, reported the secretary. After the chairman had expressed appreciation of the secretary’s services the meeting closed. HAWERA OPERA HOUSE. “THE CHARLATAN” MYSTERY. Universal’s mystery of a fake fortune teller, “The Charlatan,” will open at the Hawera Opera House to-night. The picture is an “inside story” of the workings of a Hindu fortune teller, who, in this case, is an American masquerading in the role. The trust that women often place in such fakirs, revealing the innermost secrets of their hearts, is one of the entertaining features of the picture. “The Charlatan” is an adaptation of the stage success of the same name. George Melford directed the picture. Carl Laemmle junr. supervised it. The cast is a notable one, with Holmes Herbert, Rockliffe Fellowes, Margaret Livingston and Fred Mackaye in the leading roles. The supporting programme includes another of the Music Master series, “The Life Work of Verdi.” The box plan is at Miss Blake’s sweet shop. PLANE STUNTS OVER TE KIRI. A Moth aeroplane “stunted” over To Kiri on Friday morning on its way to New Plymouth. Excitement was intense; 70 per cent, of the children had never seen this mysterious thing before. Shouts of rapture went up as the biplane executed the falling leaf and Joop over the children’s heads. With silver body glistening in the sur the Moth sailed away, but the pilot’s heart would have been warmed to see how excited and happy he had made the children by his consideration. The annual farmers’ ball, the event of the season, is to be held on July 9. Talk of groaning boards, hot joints, Yorkshire puddings, trifles, jellies and what not lends a delicious savour to the coming event, so with Barton b orchestra to provide music a first-class time is assured.