DISPOSAL OF CALVES.

Shannon News, 7 August 1928, Page 4

DISPOSAL OF CALVES.

N.D.A. CO-OPERATIVE SCHEME NOW FINALISED.

CONTRACT GRANTED POR KILLING AND FREEZING.

Any doubts that may have existed in the minds of farmers as to which works to send their calves in connection with the co-operative scheme recently formulated by the National Dairy Association, will now be set at rest.

At Monday's meeting of the Manawatu branch of the National Dairy Association, it was definitely stated that the Feilding Farmers'' Freezing Works at Aorangi, had been given the contract for the killing and freezing of calves.

Mr. J. D. Brown (Ohau) presided, there being also present: Messrs S. E. Algar- (Rangiotu, Himatangi, Glen Oroua), E. W. Pemberton (Rangi|wahia), G. H. Stiles (Shannon, TokoUiaru), H. V. Caverhill (Rongotea), F. 'Goddy (Kopane), G. Hansen (Awa-. huri), N. Campbell (Bunnythorpe), L. S. Gould (Apiti), H. B. Lethbridge (Otaki, Te Horo, Paraparaumu), T. Ranford (Whakarongo), K. W. Daljrymple (Bulls and Rangitikei) and Mr. •D. Buchanan (Kairanga). Mr. C. H. Backhouse, secretary of /the National Dairy Association, was also in attendance. ' The chairman, in his opening remarks, stated that since the last meeting of the Manawatu branch, the prices offered to farmers had gone up consid"erably, as a direct result of the organisation by the N.D.A. Offers were now being made by private firms that would have amazed farmers had they Jbfceiri intade las|t year. The opposition was getting busy already and had secured some, of the calves that the N.D.A. were entitled to. Doubts Set at Rest. ; Mr. Boddy brought up the question of which factory the calves should be sent to. Considerable discussion took place as some of the delegates had already inadvertently sent calves to the Feilding bacon factory in accordance with last year's procedure. It had earlier been arranged that the bacon factory would have the contract, subject to the approval of Mr. Morton, (chairman of the N.D.A.), but at a special conference of the N.D.A. in Wellington last week it had been definitely decided that the Feilding Freezing Company were to handle the calves. Freezing Works to Co-operate. Messrs J. G. Cobbe (chairman) and V. J. Stichbury (secretary) of the Feilding Freezing, works, stated that their company would do all possible to co-operate. On account of the Saturday half-holiday it would .be inadvisable to have to handle a great number on that day. , In reply to a question,**Mr, Brown stated that the contractors had authority to grade the calves fit or unfit. Mr. Stichbury was informed that farmers not supplying a factory included in the scheme could make private arrangements with the freezing works and could share in the scheme provided they arranged for their own cartage. In response to another queTj; it was decided that each farmer could readily ascertain which contractor to deal with by communicating with his factory. ■ Mr. Cobbe made a strong point of the fact that the National Dairy Association's scheme was the only-really co-operative one and this should be widely circulated among the farmers. [ Mr. Brown pointed out in this connection that at the annual meeting of ! the Levin .Dairy (Company, the chairman had stated that he had had dealing with the Feilding scheme last year. He had received an advance of 4s and a final payment of 2s Id, making a total of 6s Id per calf; Surely the calves had been worth more than that since under the South Island Dairy Association's scheme last year, the net price to the farmer had. been 9s. Effect of Co-operation.

The chairman said it was perfectly clear that it was only the fact that the N.D.A. were organising such a scheme that had prompted the opposition to offer a flat rate of 9s per calf as against the 8s with bonus offered through the eo-operative scheme. Had there been no co-operative scheme formulated by the N.D.A., the price offered would undoubtedly still. have remained at 5s per head. The N.D.A. scheme, however, which was receiving the loyal support of every right thinking dairyman, would undoubtedly of tremendous and lasting benefit to the farming community. Details of the Arrangements.

;Mr. Buchanan reported that the factories in the Kairanga district had b<(en erecting little depots at a small cost. jMr. Lethbridge stated that the reasoin that the calves wore consigned straight on to the trucks in the Otaki arjea was that in places the factories were alongside. the railway station. lit was resolved on account of the transport and killing charges not .to take any "scrubby" calves that would be rejected at the freezing works. The farmers could slaughter these themselves and a flat rate of 5s (Jd per skin would be given.

After considerable discussion it was decided that a flat rate of 5s 6d would be given for any skins that. farmers had on hand.