HERD-TESTING CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1933, Page 8

HERD-TESTING CONTROL

CENTRAL TARANAKI MEETING. ASSOCIATION TO CONTINUE. The first annual meeting of the Central Taranaki Group Herd Testing Association was held at Stratford last night. Mr. L. E. Hann presided over a large attendance. The chief topic of discussion was the advisability or otherwise of linking with the North Taranaki Association under the control of the New Zealand Federation.

The directors reported that 2908 cows from 64 herds were tested, the distribution being members, 2418; Okoke, 302; association, 188. Members’ cows were divided into seven groups. Congratulations were due to the Pembroke group with its average of 62441 b milk, 4.82 per cent, test and 300.71 b fat in 272 days for 248 cows. Mr. H. C. Taylor, Ngaere, secured the highest average for herds under - 60 cows, and Mr. S. H. Wicksteed’s Pembroke Road herd of 62 cows was the highest herd of over 60 cows.

Testing fees for the season were reduced from £2 10s herd fee plus 3s per cow for herds up to 50 cows, and 2s 6d per cow over 50, to 3s per cow for the first 60 and 2s 6d over 60, plus £1 herd fee —a reduction of 47 per cent, for herds of 23 cows and 11 per cent, for herds of 100 cows. The working costs per cow proved, conclusively that the charges levied were sufficient to provide an efficient and accurate service to members.

“The support given the association proves that Taranaki farmers are well aware of the advantages of herd-testing and will readily avail themselves of this service providing they can obtain it at a reasonable cost,” the chairman stated. A comparison of the computed returns and the actual returns of the leading herds in each group proved the accuracy of the testing officer’s work. He could not report that the association had been affiliated with the New Zealand Federation. Mr. H. C. Taylor waited on the federation’s management committee at Hamilton on June 15, and put the case before it on behalf of the association. After consideration affiliation was again refused on the grounds that the Central Taranaki Association was not necessary, the monopoly of testing in the territory having been granted to North Taranaki.

“The North Taranaki Association has reduced fees by 20 per cent.,” continued the chairman. That showed that in the past farmers had been overcharged for the services rendered, and it was only through the formation of the association with its policy of an efficient service at a reasonable cost that the monopoly had been broken and a reduction effected.

“We started this association because we considered the North Taranaki charges to be too high, and our experience during the first year has shown that the move was justified,” Mr. Hann said. “We had intended to have a tattoo mark but have been unable to do so as the other people have blocked us in every way. However, the secretary tells me that they cannot stop us from registering a mark, though they have succeeded in holding us off. As we were not able to affiliate with the New Zealand Federation it was suggested that we go in again with the North Taranaki Association, but they would not have us back unless we conformed to their rules and charges.”

Had the New Zealand Federation granted affiliation and given the association boundaries within which it could have worked, no great harm would have been done to the North Taranaki Association, said Mr. H. C. Taylor. The federation declined to do that on the principle that to approve of the breakaway would have an adverse effect on the federation. To link up with North Taranaki, even though that body had reduced charges by'2o per cent., would mean a charge of 3s 7d a cow up to 50 cows as against the 3s in Central Taranaki, while the North Taranaki Association charged £2 10s per herd no matter whether it was large or small. Thus a heavier burden was placed on the smaller farmer under the North Taranaki rules as compared with the Central Taranaki methods. Members had therefore to decide if they would continue on their own or rejoin North Taranaki.

Mr. J. Parrish: Did they explain how there came to be an association at Hawera and another at Patea, only 18 miles away? The secretary: The Patea men rushed it through before the others woke up. “Since we broke away North Taranaki has reduced charges by 20 per cent., though it was claimed before the advent of the Central Taranaki Association that no reduction could be made,” Mr. W. Meyers remarked. “But we have no guarantee' that if we join North Taranaki the reduction will be maintained,” said Mr. Taylor. The question of calf-marking was raised. The chairman explained that a letter from the Department of Agriculture indicated that the association could register a brand for calves. Mr. Taylor contended that a calf marked in any way to denote that its dam had given 3001 b of fat or more would be as acceptable to a buyer as a calf marked with the association’s tattoo.

“Unless there are any strong reasons why we should join North Taranaki I favour retaining the Central Taranaki Association in its present form,” was Mr. P. Thomson’s opinion. The chairman doubted if the charges could be retained at the present rates, but even if they had to be raised to the North Taranaki level it had to be remembered that Central Taranaki had been responsible for the reduction, and the North Taranaki leaflets stated that the reduced charges were made for one year.

Mr. A. R. Claridge moved and Mr. H. Lehmann seconded that Central Taranaki continue alone. Mr. W. H. Whittaker (Okoke) said it had been stated that the Central Taranaki Association applied to North Taranaki Association to rejoin. The chairman denied that that was so. Representatives of the two associations met to see if an agreement could be reached, but Central Taranaki had certainly not applied for reinstatement. Having been told that the charges of associations in the Waikato varied and that in Hawke’s Bay there were associations with a considerably smaller number of cows than Central Taranaki had, Mr. Parish said that the attem. t to block the operations of the association was especially directed against Central Taranaki. The motion was carried unanimously. The following directors were elected: Messrs L. E. Hann, H. C. Taylor, W. Myers, J. /Parrish and L. H. Jardine; auditor, Mr. W. F. Ross.