11/5.9D PER CALF

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3244, 26 March 1943, Page 4

11/5.9D PER CALF

HIKUTAIA-WHAREPOA ANNUAL MEETING HELD 3736 HANDLED DURING SEASON The annual meeting of the* Hiku-taia-Wharepoa Bobby Calf Pool was held on Monday last in the Hikutaia Hall, Mr Geo. Avery, chairman, presiding over a good attendance of members. Also present was Mr Hastings, organiser of the P.M.A., who during the evening gave a very detailed and clear account of the working of the pool over the past season. Mr Hastings also presented the balance sheet and answered a number of questions.

The balance sheet presented by Mi’ Hastings disclosed that during the year 3736 calves had been collected of which only 262 had been condemned. This was only 7.01 per cent, of the calves collected. Cartage costs had amounted to lOd per calf with railage 11.6 d per calf. The average weight of the calves had been 31.641b5.

The at-gate payment on calves over the minimum weight, had averaged Ils 5.9 d per calf with light calves' realising 10s 4d and heavy calves 12s 9d.

Address By Mr Hastings

The chairman thanked the farmers for their attendance which he said must be pleasing to Mr Hastings as he had travelled a long distance to address the meeting. Mr Avery also thanked Mr C. Wright for always keeping the trucks full during the season and in that way keeping down railage costs.

Mr Hastings in his opening remarks, extended thanks to the farmers for the confidence that they had placed in the pool for the past season and he said he felt sure they would do business with them again . this season. He stated that 65 pools had been handled by the P.M.A. this last year against 63 in the past season and that this increase of pools had meant that they had handled 30’8,362 calves for the season which was a good increase over last year. This naturally brought better realisation, while overall expenses were no higher, as a matter of fact, the costs for this season had proved to be the lowest on record in the history of the company, being 1.64 d, as against 2.54 d three years ago. One of the main reasons for this was, said Mr Hastings, that costing was on a basis over all the pools controlled by them and by that system the P.M.A. got lower administration costs. Condemned Calves Some of the main points made by Mr Hastings were in connection with condemned calves and what he termed border-line calves. Condemned and under-weight calves, .called skinners, he said, were a total loss to the industry, as the Government subsidy of 2s plus Is 9d, making 3s 9d realisation on the meat, was the only return received by the pool. The border-line calves were, he said, where many pools were losing the most, as a calf making 501bs and up to 601bs made 10s 4d as against the 3s 9d for a calf just under 501bs, while calves over 601bs became heavy and made 12s 9d instetd of 10s 4d. Therefore, he said, he felt he should point out to. the farmers the value of keeping all calves for the full three days that the regulations laid down, as in that period many put on enough weight from being fed by their mo'.hers on what, as Mr Hastings said, was “milk that was of no use for separating,” to make the higher grades and thereby benefiting the final returns of the pool. 4

Another point was calves which were left in the open for'collection on wet days. These absorbed from two to three pounds of moisture, the weights therefore being misleading.

Resolution to Member

The following resolution was passed unanimously by the meeting: “That this annual meeting of the Hikutaia-Wharepoa Bobby Calf Pool wishes to show their appreciation to the Hom Minister for the fair way he dealt with the bobby calf industry last season but feel they must strongly protest against the principle of one section of the community directly subsidising another and - that as the whole of the community benefitted from cheaper leather, suggest the bobby calf levy should be replaced by a Government subsidy from the National Account.”

At the conclusion of the meeting a> hearty vote of thanks to Mr Hastings for his address and continued confidence in the P.M.A. was unanimously carried.