MR. LYE’S ADDRESS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 298, 25 July 1929, Page 1

MR. LYE’S ADDRESS.

POINTED PARAGRAPHS. Mr. S. C. G. Lye has a reputation for making pointed remarks,’ and his address to, Matamata farmers was quite in accordance with his usual style. Items culled from his address are as follows:

Where Are The Sheep? “ Farmers are goats; I am one of them, too, for I have been a farmer for 30 years.” ~, Putaruru Honesty. : : “ There is an honest man in Putaruru,” stated Mr. Lye. He said: “ Look, Lye, you talk about feeding' calves for three days, but I can’t afford to do it.” “ What do you do with the beastings ?” I asked. “ I put them through the separator,” he replied. (Laughter). He is not on his own, either, for 18 per cent of farmers are doing the same thing, concluded the speaker, as he quoted the percentage v of reject bobby calves. \ Freezing Milk. “If I was to ask you to alter your present system of dairying, and instead of putting your milk through the separator, to bring it into the station, send it to the Horotiu freezing works, freeze it, send it Home and bring it back as butter and cheese, you would say ‘ You hold him while I get the doctor.’ (Laughter). Yet ,we do the selfsame thing with our beef, calves and pigs and buy back for 6s 3d per lb that which we have sold for 2d per lb.”

Potted Calf. “ Just look at this,” stated the speaker, as he held up a sample of imported potted meat. “ Our own stuff in somebody else’s pots.” (Laughter). “It says chicken and ham on it,. but there is. no chicken ever got into this pot; it’s dear little bobby calf. (Loud laughter). You sell at at 2d per lb and buy it back at 4s Bd.” (Laughter). Coercion Not Popular. Control failed because of coercion. Because an Act of Parliament said farmers had to do something. Now federation was taking its nlace and looked like being successful. “It is in your hands, gentlemen, not in mine. Stick to the business and see it through.” Cockie’s Prayer. All farmers should repeat this prayer: The calf if the harbinger of my prosperity. Owing to its coming into the world I get my butter and cheese. As he has only three or four days to live in this world I’ll make them merry ones and give him a good belly. f Freezing Works. Of 43 freezing works in New Zealand, only four are co-operative concerns, and one of-those is shaky. Queensland Rules. If a man sends out a “ brummy ” calf he will get a “ brummy ” price. In Queensland they have less than half per cent rejects in bobby calves. There they debit the farmer with the freight on a rejected calf, and then rej-consign it back to him. (Laughter). Too Fine Altogether. There were 14 per cent more starved calves in Waikato than in Southland last year. Fourteen per cent more in a district with the finest herds, finest., land and finest people. They were too fine in the eye, however.- (Laughter). They were tempted and fell. I have been tempted, too, but I have learned my lesson now.