BOBBY CALF POOL

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3550, 6 May 1939, Page 5

BOBBY CALF POOL

THE CAMBRIDGE DISTRICT INITIAL YEAR REVIEWED The success of the Bobby Calf Pool system in the Cambridge district last season was demonstrated at the annual meeting in the'Oddfellows' Hall yesterday, when it was decided by unanimous vote to continue the operation of the Pool in the coming season, the chairman, Mr F. H. Anderson, presided over an attendance of about forty farmers. ;

The statistics for the past season showed that 21,571 calves were collected, of which 1.73 per cent were condemned. The'average live weight was 63.2391 b., and the average payment at farm gates over all calves collected was 7/2.584d a calf. Details of the statement of accounts were that receipts from the sale of calves were 9411 9/10. Expenses had been £IOB9 13/8 (12.01 d, a head); railage, £247 5/8 (2.759 d a head); secretary's salary, supervision, trucking and office expenses, £270 17/9 (2.89 d a head) payment jto suppliers, £7783.0/5; balance in h'aqd, £30.12/4. .. Dealing "with the balance sheet, Mr Anderspn stated that the 12.01 d paid to carriers, was less than had been paid in- the .past. The committee had "iet carriers, and the cost' was now fairly near what should be; paid. To reduce further cartage costs would be one of the matters to engage the committee this year, said the chairman. He said he had been told that the carriers were more than- satisfied and would not desire to go back to the old system. Supervised Trucking ~ the appointment of the trucking supervisor had proved well worth while,, added Mr Anderson. It was considered that 90 calves to a truck was a good standard. The average .last year was 89, this being due to efficient service. In the previous season 75 calves had been the average and the saving in railage under the Pool system had partly paid the supervisor's expenses; It was hoped that this season the truck average would reach 95 calves. The season had started on July 7 when the market for veal in London was 4id lb, compared with sid lb at the commencement of the previous year. With calves averaging 181 b, this meant a loss of 1/0 a calf. Skins were also quoted at 2/3, as against 5/9 a year earlier. However, by sending the calves to Horotiu,they were stored until July 23 when, prices had improved. There had been a saving of .31d a calf on railage to Horotiu as compared with Westfield. Comparison of Returns ' In*a comparison of returns* Mr Anderson quoted the figures of neighbouring Pools, which had ■adopted various selling systems. Prices on open tender Were 7/.09d and G/lOd per calf, and from the Pig Marketing Association, 6/9.7d. The Morrinsville group of eight Pools had averaged 7/7d, but cartage had been as lbVas 6*d'a calf. The question of the minimum live weight was discussed by Mr Anderson. Last season, he said, the minimum had been 501 b, which had requited in only 1.73 per cent of condemned calves. This year, the policy of the Pool would be to reduce the minimum weight. . The result would mean probably an, increase in the percentage of condemned calves, but a greater service would be given to farmers. Annual Re/port The Pool commenced operations facing up to two adverse factors, stated the annual report. These were the light weight of calves following autumn and winter conditions and a lower market compared with the previous season, of approximately 4/- per head. That under these conditions an. average payment at the farm gate over all 'calves collected of 7/2.574d accrued to the producers, indicated that there was much to be said in favour of the rationalising of the branch of farm production through producer co-operative effort.

The details of the establishing of the Pool in its first year necessitated the committee giving a great deal of time at frequent meetings to the questions involved, but members had the satisfaction of knowing that throughout the season the Pool operated with a minimum of

friction. The local carriers gave an

efficient service in all districts, and ' the trucking arrangements, thanks to the co-operation of carriers, trucking supervisor (Mr J. Cooper) and the Railway Department, were very satisfactory and altogether a vast improvement on past methods. The office work was carried out

satisfactorily by Mr R. S. Entwistle, and it was hoped that the system of accounting, which the committee designed to.give prompt settlement, was appreciated by suppliers. A review of the season's operations in this and neighbouring Pools was undertaken at a meeting with officers of the Internal Marketing Department, when the questions of minimum weight of calves, cartage contracts, and the regulations generally were fully discussed. The Department, following upon discussions with other pools, had issued revised regulations, and it was the opinion of the committee that the Pools can operate efficiently and with a minimum of control under these regulations. The committee realised that, from a producers' point of view, the most contentious subject was the minimum live-weight of the calves collected, but they desired to give their assurance that they had done everything possible in that connection to protect the producers and at the same time carry on the trade to comply with overseas requirements.

The protection given to Pools under the original regulations of 1938 provided that where 80 per cent of the producers were in favour of a Pool the district was gazetted; the 1939 regulations lowered the figure to 75. per cent, but provided that all Pool areas gazetted under the 1938 regulations are of a continuing effect.

The committee, however, realising that producers signed up for one year only, desired that a resolution should be put to the meeting for or against the Pool. They were, however, confident that the system had been so much an improvement on previous conditions that a continuance of the Pool would meet with general approval. Mr R. H. Feisst congratulated the committee on its efforts during the initial year of operation. He said it was obvious that a business of this nature entailed considerable organisation, and the results had been excellent. There had been a certain amount of criticism, added Mr Feisst, some being sound and some being made through ; lack of knowledge. Mr S. H. Judd also spoke*in appreciation of the work of the committee.

In an endeavour to keep down, cartage costs, the following resolution to. be forwarded to the Minister of Transport was carried: — "That this annual meeting of the Cambridge District Bobby Calf Pool, representing 500 primary producers; protests to the (Minister of Transport against the action of the No. 1 Transport Authority in merging the counties in the Auckland Province for the purpose of fixed transport rates." On behalf of farmers in the distant areas of the Pool, Mr C. Jeans expressed appreciation of the cooperative spirit shown in connection with cartage rates. From the balance in hand of £3O 12/4, the meeting decided to make a payment to members of the com-, mittee at the rate of 2/6 for meetings held in Cambridge, and 5/- for meetings held in Hamilton. An election took place for seven members of the committee, the successful candidates being: Messrs F. H. Anderson, C. Bruce, R. D. Fisher, W. Harbutt, W. N. Perry, C. Russo and Trowell. The only new member is Mr Trowell, who replaces Mr "A. K. McCann. Appreciation was expressed of the excellent service given to the Pool last year by Mr McCann. At a short meeting of the executive, Mr F. H. Anderson was unanimously re-elected chairman.