CALF POOL MEETING

Chronicle (Levin), 5 April 1946, Page 3

CALF POOL MEETING

BIG GATHERING OF FARMERS The Shannon' branch of ' the National Federation of Co-operative Bobby Calf Pools. heldvits' annual general meeting ' in Laiirvig's vHall on Wednesday evening, when Mr.' S. W.. Barber presided over a very large gathering of farmers. Mr. N. Hastings, the organiser of the N.Z. Co-operative Pig Marketing AssOciatioh, .was present and gave a most fnteresting lecture, during which he stressed the importance of the farmers in supplying meat to England. Mr.. Hastings advised that to assist the farniers to this end the Pig Marketing Association • would be coll.ecting calves in the off season. Calves which were picked up on'Mondays would be killed at the Longburn works on Tuesdays, and all. eatable offal sent to England. Mr. Hastings stated that he could not stress too strongly the important task the farmers had to play in supplying meat to England, ahd the P:M.A., through its lo'cal agents, was doing everything in its power to assist farmers in carrying out this task. If farmers had any worries they should not hesitate to communicate with their local P.M.A. agent,, who would -always be willing to assist them. Mr. Hastings mentioned that the time was fast coming when all farming produpe, such as eggs, butter, meat, honey, etc., would be' liandled through a co-operative association, and in this way the farmer would receive every penny he was entitled to. In the election of the committee the three retiring members, Messrs. S. W. Barber, W. J. Moynihan and L. H. Liggins, were re-elected. The committee for the district is: Messrs. S. W. Barber, W. J. Moynihan and F. Bradey (secretary) Shannon; Messrs. R. M. Phillips, II. Barrow and W. P. Hocking, Opiki; Mr. S. H. Liggins, Tokomaru; Messrs. G. E. Barber and A. Wilson, Foxton; and Mr. O. Coley, Buckley. The agent for the district is Mr. F. Bradey. The statement of accounts to December. 1, 1945> was as follows: By nett proceeds (including boneless veal, skins, offal and vells) on hooks weight of calves received at works, less administration and field supervision costs:— 196,724 lbs at 5.8079d; £4760 12s- 9d. Expenditures to cartage costs; £420 12s 9d; rail•age costs, £1-07 4s 4,1 d; New Zealand Bobby Calf Council. skin equalisation levy of ld, £28 13s lOd; expenses and disbursements paid, at the direction of thc "pool committee, £24 13s 7d, making a surplus for distfibution to suppliers of £4179 7s 8d. The statistics for the same period -vyere-; — Total calves collected, 6886; total calves condemned, 472, or 6.86 per cent; cartage cost per. calf, l-2.66d; railage cost per calf, 4.74d; average weight on hooks, 30.04 lbs. The payment at gate on calves over minimum weight was for .light calves 11s ld and for heavy calves 14s 7d, or an average payment of 13s l.Od per calf, which was most satisfactory. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Hastings screened a very interesting film, entitled "100 Crowded Years," which depicted the history of New Zealand from the time of the arrival of the first settlers, through the Maori wars, the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and ,right up to the present day. An interesting feature was the showing of New Zealand at the time when farmers were producing more meat than they could consume, and the setting up of their first freezing works, so starting what has grown to be the country's most important primary industry. At the conclusion of the film an enjoyable supper was ser.ved to those present, who, by-the-way, included a number of women and children.