BOBBY CALVES

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20230, 26 June 1937, Page 12

BOBBY CALVES

METHOD OF COLLECTION. DAMAGE TO THE ROADS. ■COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION. (Times Representative.) TIRAU, Friday. Many matters affecting the collection of bobby calves in the Matamata County were discussed at the monthly meeting of the County Council at Tirau tqgday. The question of overlapping and the danger of eliminating competition were .the main points of the discussion. “We have been endeavouring to restrict overlapping for some time,” said Mr E. D. White, “and in some districts this has had its effect, and the settler has gained the advantage. However, in some of the back places there have been considerable differences in the prices paid to the farmers and I think it is our duty to see that even competition is maintained. Restriction is entirely the wrong course to follow. However, there is a certain justification for the council’s attitude owing to the fact that they do not receive a fair share of the benzine tax on secondary roads. If we decide to eliminate competition in this industry where will such a policy stop? If a man pays his tax he should be allowed to use the roads as much as he de-sires. The tax distribution should be spread equally over the whole county. Tills is a very important matter and will have to receive our earnest consideration." Scale of Prices. The county engineer, Mr M. E. Fitzgerald, expressed the opinion that there would have to he a scale of prices based on the -size and class of the animals collected. He knew that fair prices were not always given where there was no competition, but this -case was not confined only to the back roads. “It will never be on a fair basis until the distribution of the benzine tax Is revised,” -said Mr White. “There is no question about‘the fact that any money taken from the Treasury or collected from the roads is public property.” “Within a couple of weeks there will be about -six or seven lorries operating on one of the oounty’s back roads and a month will see that road in a terrible state,” added Mr Fitzgerald. “The bobby calf trade i-s one of the most attractive and with the payments coming in promptly it is no wonder that all the carriers go for it.’’ In reply to Mr. J. Pohlen, Mr. White -said that the price might be standardised but surely if a keen business man, who was prepared to pay a slightly higher price for the calves, came along he should be allowed to carry on. Keen business methods had built every branch of trade up to what it was to-day and he could not see why such a po-sitlon should not pertain in the bobby calf Industry.

The engineer stated that a system of zoning the carriers, providing enough were left to deal with each district, would be a step in the right direction as long as certain aspects were observed. In the -first place the carrier would have to give an undertaking that he would oontinue in business throughout the season and that he would also supply any firm the farmer wished. Protecting Ratepayers’ Interests. “ As representatives of the ratepayers we must protect their interests and we must conduct our own business as we think best,” said Mr. White. “ We have the Licensing Authority and highly paid Government officials touring the country to-day and I do not think that they can do the Job as well as we can. I object to Mr. Phelan telling us what we must do. It is only by the council asserting their rights now that they will be able to maintain those rights. If we allow all those officials to regulate our business we will be led like sheep.” Mr. P. Dee also expressed the opinion that, the local bodies had a better idea of their own requirements than the Licensing Authority did. Mr. White" continued by saying that as long as better roads were provided the council would not have to worry about overlapping or how many carriers used the roads. Then they could go ahead with their competition and it would be all to the farmers’ advantage. However, whatever they did at present would not affect the coming season. A suggestion had been made that the trade should be handled by the dairy companies, said Mr. Fitzgerald. The South Island Dairy Association had complete control of the industry in I lie South I-sland. If I lio money speqt on transport regulation's were spent on road maintenance it would do a great deal towards solving the problem and would also lot. tlie carriers go wherever they wished. “ Allowance has been made for the overlapping on I lie small roads hut no allowance has been made for the damage lo Hie roads.” said Mr. P. R. •Hawke. “ The result, lias been that although the farmer might gain a few shillings through the sale of liis calves lie loses liis profits through Hie damage lo Hie roads, lie does not seem to realise that aspect.” After further discussion it was decided that Mr. Hawke and Mr. Fitzgerald would represent the county at a conference on the subject to be held in Auckland next week. On the motion of Mr. White it was decided fo forward a remit to the New Zealand Counties’ 'Conference in August stating that the council was of the opinion that the time was overdue for a more equitable distribution of motor taxation. The remit suggested that a £ 1 for £1 subsidy on all rates for roading purposes would lie a means of enabling counties to efficiently maintain roads other than main highways.