BOBBY CALVES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 18 September 1934, Page 3

BOBBY CALVES

PROPOSED SUBSIDY ON LOSSES. Some time was spent by the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers ’ Union at its meeting yesterday afternoon in discussing a proposal held over from the previous meeting that the Government be asked to pay to dairy farmers a subsidy which would compensate them for their ultimate losses on the sale of bobby calves, and that the Meat Board be urged to support the request. Eventually a motion in these terms was passed. Moving the motion, Mr W. J. Thomas said that in this district, and he thought in most others, farmers were getting an advance of 2s 6d on boboy calves. Last year’s total payment for bobby calves was about 5s 9d per head. The 2s Cd was not necessarily a final payment, but the farmers were faced by the possibility of a loss. One consideration in sending calves to the works was that of maintaining supplies of rennet. Chilled beef was still being sent away, and it seemed that only dairy farmers were to be penalised by restrictions on the export of meat. He thought they were entitled to ask for compensation.

Mr J. H. Bremner considered that the dairy farmer certainly should be reimbursed. He thought they should discuss also the question of boneless beef. Restrictions on the export of this commodity would be much more serious for the dairy farmer than the embargo on bobby calves. It had been stated by Mr Dynes Fulton and by the secretary of the Dairy Board that proposals to restrict the export of bobby calves and boneless beef had originated v r ith the Meat Board. Mr Bremner said he considered that the dairy farmers of New Zealand had been “sold a pup.” He would very much like to know who had sold it to them. So far as they knew, no restriction had been put upon meat exports from any other Dominion. Why had New Zealand been singled out? Bobby calf meat did not enter into competition with any British product. Much of it was sent to Central Europe, where it was regarded as a delicacy. Boneless beef also did not come into competition with British produce. It would be interesting to know why restrictions had been imposed on these classes of meat exports. He. urged that the Government should be asked to publish the correspondence with Britain on the subject of meat restrictions, and also to remove the embargo. The farmer did not want a subsidy. He wanted fair play and freedom to sell his produce. It was stated that some farmers wei>e getting 3s or more for the skins of calves.

As a dairy farmer, Mr T. Anderson opposed the proposal that the loss on bobby calves should be made up to farmers. Two years ago, ho said, the price was only Is 6d per head, and no fuss was made then.

Mr A. Campbell said bobby calves were being killed, and they all knew what would happen if the embargo were lifted. They would be making a pre* sent to the meat trust. He moved as an amendment that the embargo should not be lifted until farmers had been paid a bonus on bobby calves. Mr R. Farrow seconded the amendment.

Mr J. C. Cooper said the question of boneless beef should be reopened. There was a splendid market for this beef in Glasgow, where shipbuilding and other industries were now busy and prosperous. Cutting out this trade would not help New Zealand in the least. It Avould help only our Argentine and Australian competitors. Prospects for the sale of boneless beef at Home had never been better than they were today.

Mr L. T. Daniell raised the question of the Ottawa discussions and tlieir outcome. At Ottawa, he said, the chairman of the New Zealand Meat Board (Mr D. Jones) was asked how much beef this country would be sending to Britain (per annum), and he said about 20,000 tons. This estimate was accepted, with a margin of ten per cent, making 22,000 tons. New Zealand sent 40,000 tons of beef. Mr Jones contended that his estimate was not a guarantee, but apparently the other people had taken it as a guarantee. The position, said Mr Daniell, was perfectly clear. Beef was worth £22 a ton, and it cost £lO a ton to ship Home. Mutton was worth about £4B a ton, and it also cost £lO a ton to ship. Pork was worth £OO a ton, and cost £lO a ton to ship. Lamb was worth £7B a ton, and cost about £ll a ton to ship. Wool, in a good season, was worth £l2O a ton, and cost about £9 a ton to ship. Surely the thing to do if you were caught was to cut out the least valuable stuff. He suggested that they should adjourn further discussion until the Dairy Commission’s report had been brought down. The amendment was lost on the voices. The Provincial President (Mr H. Morrison) supported the original motion, urging that a subsidy should be paid to dairy farmers to compensate them for their ultimate loss on bobby ‘calves, and this was carried. No motion was passed in regard to boneless beef.