NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1511, 6 August 1912, Page 8

NEWS AND NOTES.

N.Z. DAIRY ASSOCIATION. - ANNUAL REPORT. Tho annual report of tho New Zealand Dairy Association states that during the year just .closed the association made 0,220,0<91b. of butter, being an increase of 1,50D,(i091b. on the previous year's make. fiio complete payments for the past season were higher than ever before. Tho total of all payments, on a butterfat basis, from 'September to .May inclusive, to shareholders at the largest creamerics will bo one shilling awl three farthings per lb. for butter-fat. For tho months of July and the first half of August the similar payments will be equal to one shilling and twopence-halfpenny per lb., and for the second aalf of August one shilling and one penny: halfpenny per lb. These payments constitute a record, representing as they do the largest net price paid for butter-fat in the Auckland province, sldm-milk being returned free to suppliers. The smaller creameries will receive proportionately 'less, according to the amount of their quantity bonus. The average payment to shareholders for July and August, everything included, on a butter-fat basis, is ](3.514 d. per lb., and from September to •May inclusive, 12.-lid. per lb. These figures represent actual payments for all the butter-fat in the original milk, no deductions being made or provided ict to cover waste or losses due to separation or cost of carriage of cream, or of its subsequent manufacture into butter. Only suppliers who hold shares in the proportion of one for each 2191b. weight of but-ter-fat (or portion thereof) supplied during the season will be entitled to receive payment in full.' •'For some years the association has followed the policy usually adopted by cooperative dairy companies of making a conservative advance against butter-fat, generally leaving a substantial payment to be made during the winter, when the season's results have been, ascertained. ■Many, of the shareholders and suppliers have indicated that larger payments from month to month would be more useful to tlibm than the considerable payment during the winter. The directors have .con. sideral this proposition, and in future the association's .advance payments from month to month will be on a more generous scale than formerly. Tu pursuance of this policy the directors 'nave decided'as follows: —For the months , of July and August a uniform of one shilling (Is.) per lb. will be • 'paid at all creameries, to which shareholders' profit will be added under usual conditions. For the month of September the rate to be advanced at tho group of the largest creameries will be one shilling per lb." for butter-fat, which will include .Id.'per* lb. on account. of, the quantity bonus, which will be payable at such creamery in terms of conditions of supply. At smaller creameries the rate'of advance for September will be proportionately ■ less, according to the quantity, bonus 'which will,bo earned in terms of conditions of supnly. The minimum advance for the month of September will be elevenpence per lb. In all cases the advance will be subject to the addition to share, holders of profit'bonus under usual conditions, and the supply., from September to llav will also be subject to 'lie addition of such, further sums as may accrue on account of . the. quantity bonus. NEW SLAUGHTERING SYSTEM. A SIMPLE METHOD. . .Demonstrations arc being carried out by the. Council of Justice to Animals, says "Chambers's Journal," . with a new slaughtering system, 'which has tho recommendation of being instantaneous, clean, simple'; and. efficient.. The .instrument consists of a small weapon rerembling a pistol, carrying a steel bolt which is attached to the barrel, and which is discharged' by a small smokeless-powder cartridge. The niuzzle of the weapon is placed upon tho forehead or the ba'clc of flio head of the animal to be killed,, according to whether.it is a bullock, pig, or sheep, and the trigger pulled. The dischirffco ,fires the bolt into the brain of ' the animal, killing it instantly, and after completing its work the missile return to tho muzxle. The instrument requires no skill, in its manipulation beyond the pressure of the muzzle against the animal's head in the most vulnerable position. The report on firing is very slight, and there is. little chance of a misfire or accident. . Unless tlie muzzle is against the bedy it cannot possibly inflict any. injury: while, should the slaughterer .slip oi- the animal move its head during the operation, there is no danger 'of a bullet ricocheting to inflict ■ damage up'Mi any persons in the vicinity. The Council above-named are carrying out an active campaign to demonstrate and the employment of this simple method, which lias been in vogue "for , some time in Germany as a substitute for ■ tho primitive and uncertain poleaxiiinr or ■the use of a bullet. The weapon is ninde i in two sizes, tho larger for cattle nnd pigs, the smaller for calves, sheen, dogs, etc. ■ SYDNEY HORSE SHOW. NEW ZEALAND PRIZF,, WINNERS. By.TclograDh—Pros3 Association—Copyright (Roc. August 5, 9.15 p.m.) Sydney, August 5. The New Zealand-bred Clydesdale stallion, Plucky. Willie, and his progeny _ figured prominently in the Royal Hotsc Show. Plucky Willie secured the 100- , guinea premium for tli.o best draught stallion in the show, and first, prize for the best, stallion. Royal Willie and Gallant Willie, two of his sons,, were awarded firsts'in the three and two-year classes respectively, ■ while his daughter took first Tirize for the "best filly under three year?. The New Zealand-bred Milton lass and Milton Pride took first and second prizes for mares over four years. Tho New Zea-land-bred Miss Murray was first in the three-year-olds. Sylvanite topped the list for thoroughbred stallions, and Port Jackson for mares.