THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16780, 23 April 1926, Page 4

THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

CONTROL BOARD AND HERD TEST TE AWAMUTU CO-OPERATIVE CO. Mr Chas. M. Alexander, chairman of directors of the Tc Awamutu Cooperative Dairy Co., Ltd., presided over a meeting of the company’s suppliers in Tc Awamutu Town Hall on Thursday. lie explained that Hie object, of Ihe meeting was to ascertain the views of suppliers in connection with the election of members to the Dairy Produce Control Board, and also to consider Hie advisability of commencing herd-testing groups next season. The secretary (Mr A. J. Sinclair) slated that the present method of electing members to the Control Board had been universally condemned, and that three alternatives were being canvassed, namely: (1) The council system on an export tonnage basis, under which the vole was taken from ihe individual producer and vested in dairy “company directors, who would vote on an export tonnage basis for Hie election of a council of 30 members, which in turn would elect from amongst its number the members of the Control Board; (2) a system under which the council of 30 members Would lie elected by the individual producers, but similar in oilier respects to the first scheme; and (3) the single ward system; under which the individual producer would elect Ills representative direct to the Control Board,

After discussion the meeting uanimously passed the following resolution: “That this meeting strongly supports the single ward system of electing members to the Dairy Control Board, the voting to be in the hands of the individual producers.” Mr A. J. Sinclair was appointed to attend the eonfo/cnce of dairy companies to be field in Wellington on the 28til instant. Mr Sinclair stated he had agreed to act as delegate also for Ifawhia, Ivakepuku, and Tokoroa Co-operative Dairy Companies.

The question of establishing herdtesting groups was then discussed, and a resolution was passed unanimously favouring the scheme, the groups to be solely controlled by the company. The chairman stated that there would be no secretarial, administration or overhead expenses in running the groups. After discussion the following regulations were unanimously agreed to bv the suppliers: (1) Membership to be open to ait dairy farmers irrespective of the company they supply; (2) the cost of testing to he fixed at 4s per cow; (3) separate accounts to be kept for each group; (4) not less than 00 per cent, of the herd to be tested, with a minimum number of 20 cows in each herd; (5) ten monthly tests to bo given, if desired; (6) members to bo entitled to a certificate at the end of each season stating the butterfat production of each cow tested, provided the cows are branded to the satisfaction of the company. The calves of tested cows to be branded if desired, at a cost of Od each. The chairman stated that two groups totalling 3000 cows were'already assured, and that the enrolling of members would be proceeded with immediately.