BOBBY CALF TRADE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 127, 29 April 1940, Page 5

BOBBY CALF TRADE.

(To the• Editor.) Sir, —The letter appearing in youi issue of tiie 18th, and signed by tlu president and secretary of the Freezing Workers’ Union, although obviously prompted by trade and not Ua bout considerations, calls for some comment, which with your indulgence we offer as follows (1) Prior to the advent of pools the calves killed at these works were collected and trucked in competition with four other buying companies from all parts of the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay provinces and the Manawatu and Rangitikei counties. In the Fcilding district, apart from the works in ques tion, four other companies were collecting calves, three of which killed the product outside the district. 1 hose conditions prevailed for many _ years, but at no stage during this period did these freezing workers show any interest or concern as to the distance the calves killed by them had travelled. The advent of pools and the farmers’ election to market their product through their own co-operative channels appears to have suddenly awakened the S.P.C.A., the freezing workers, the Chamber of Commerce, the Mayor and councillors, and all but the Fending Fire Brigade to a sense of acute responsibility regarding the welfare of the poor little bobby calf, whose treatment is to-day far more considerate than that in respect of any other class of live-stock.

(2) It is utter nonsense to suggest that after collections calves were held for days before slaughtering. Although calves in some parts of New Zealand are trucked for over 250 miles, in no instance except for stop-work meetings and freezing workers’ strikes are they not slaughtered the day following that on which they are collected. (3) Both the abattoirs and the works at Feilding were offered the opportunity by our agents to compete for our product. Only one agreed and its freezing workeis apparently have no cause lor complaint. (4) In conclusion wo feel that we would fail in our duty to our fellowfarmers were we to overlook this opportunity to convey to the Freezing Workers’ Union, the S.P.C.A., and all other public spirited organisations our extreme gratitude for their great concern on our behalf. Their sustained attentions on this subject are indeed most flattering, but perhaps in their generosity, having given us the benefit of their advice, they will concede our right to manage our own business. This at least is a prerogative we have never attempted to deny them. Perhaps your readers may agree that the S.P.CLA. and its funds would in these times be more profitably occupied if their maternal feelings and activities wore devoted to child welfare, where there is both scope and need for tlicir attention. —Wc are, etc.. H. J. BENGE, chairman, Colyton-Te Arakura Bobby Calf Pool. ,j k HODGSON, chairman. Bunny-thorpc-Whakarongo Calf Pool.