BOBBY CALF POOLS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22507, 15 September 1938, Page 15

BOBBY CALF POOLS

REG ULATIONS CON FIRMED BY BILL REPORTED OPPOSITION IN TARANAKI (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON. September 14, Regulations concerning the establishment of bobby-calf al \ d h^ u i nools are confirmed by the Agricui tural Emergency Regulations (Confirmation) Bill, which was passed m the House of Representatives yestei day. Moving the second reading of me bill the Minister for Marketing (the Hon. W Nash) said that facilities were being provided for farmers to form pools both for butter boxes and bobby calves. It was necessary for 80 per cent, of the farmers in a bobby-calf pool area to be agreeable before the pool was recognised. Mr W. J. Poison (National, Stratford) asked whether the Minister was satisfied with the marketing of calves., The Pig Marketing Association was working in conjunction with proprietary concerns, and its calves were being handled at their works, along with other calves. That had created a great deal of suspicion that everything might not be all right with the marketing side. Apparently there was not the real competition that had been anticipated. _ . „ Mr H. G. Dickie (National, Patea) said that the farmers in Taranaki preferred the “cash at the gate” system, and that was the reason whj*there was not one pool in Taranaki to-day. He added that there had been complaints about the alleged cruelty of leaving bobby calves in trucks at country railway stations, although he thought there was very little actual cruelty. “I believe that the Pig Marketing Association at one time received some help from one large commercial house,” said the Minister in reply; “but I do not think the criticism against it is justified. I have not seen anything to suggest any trickery or cleverness.” The Minister also expressed pleasure that the element of cruelty was gradually being eliminated from the bobbycalf trade.