FARM BY-PRODUCTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5445, 8 July 1929, Page 4

FARM BY-PRODUCTS.

DISTRICT CALF COMPANY. MANAGING-DIRECTOR’S TOUR. Mr S. C. G. Lye, managing-direc-tor of the Waikato and Thames Valley Co-operative Calf By-Product Company, Ltd., has just returned from an organising tour of Ngatea and Mangaiti districts, and reports that great interest is being displayed in the new co-operative arrangements made for the coming season. Mr Lye explained that the time had arrived for a Dominion effort to save the farmers’ position in regard to the by-products on the farm. All farmers have had experience of the method of the trusts and combines as regard to the sale of their “boner beef,” pigs, etc., and are keenly interested in this new business, which will have the effect of stabilising the markets. For many years the dairy business was controlled by vested interests, and true progress was not apparent until co-operation became an accomplished fact. What co-operation has done for the dairy farmer co-operation can and will do in reference to the bobby calf business and other by-products. The South Auckland Dairy Associationwhich comprises of all the co-opera-tive dqiry companies in the Auckland Province, have agreed to work and support the Co-operative Calf Company, and are advising all suppliers to be loyal to this co-operative movement. A very forward move is being made in the matter of federating all the co-operative calf companies in New Zealand, and when this is brought to fruition every co-opera-tive company will be in a position to pay uniform rates from the North Cape ‘ to the Bluff. The elimination of a multiplicity of sellers will also be a forward move and will eliminate weak holders., besides causing the whole of the products to be handled as one concern. More interest wi*l Be displayed by the buyers of large quantities, and the returns to the farmer will in consequence be higher. Under agreement with the dairy companies an advance payment will be made by cheque on the 20th of each month, and at the end of the season a bonus will be paid, as is dene with butter and cheese. This j will ensure every farmer of receiving . payment for his calves. Tagging System. A system of tagging each calf, as done in Southland, will be an inovation in the Waikato. Under this arrangement the farmer who is feeding his calves propeily will be rewarded for his work. On the other hand, farmers who supply small and underfed calves will not, as in the past, receive more than the value of their calves after allowing for the overhead expenses. The figures for the Southland, Wairapara, Hawkes’ Bay and Manawatu districts show that only 3.8 per cent, of the calves received were rejected, while the position in the Waikato shows over 18 per cent, rejected. The tagging system will reveal to the supplier of the poor calves, and the company will be able to call on that farmer and demonstrate to him the proper treatment required.

At all the meetings the farmers were very enthusiastic, and in many districts committtees were set up to assist in the work of organisation.

At Ngatea the following were elected : Messrs E. Martin (convener), E. Schultz, S. Phelps, G. Paton, L. Jones, N. Lawrence, G. I’hil.lips, and D. F. Louch.