N.Z. FRIESIAN ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1921, Page 8

N.Z. FRIESIAN ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Friesian Association was held at Palmerston on Wednesday, when Mr. G. Troup (president of the association) presided over an attendance of about 50 members. The president introduced Mr. Wilbur, American Consul for • New Zealand, who, he said, had been a breeder of Friesian cattle and had at one time been president of the American Friesian Breeders’ Association. Mr. Wilbur, In re- ■ turning thanks for the welcome accorded him, t stated that no one took a greater interest or' had more pleasure in the "black and whites” ; than he had, and it was hardly necessary for j him to say anything in their praise at such a' gathering of enthusiasts. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report congratulated members on the progress made, tte year haring been ' a record one in every direction. No less! than 145 new members had joined the "black ; and whites," bringing the total membership • up to 615. The demand Tor FriesLans (par- ; ticularly those, with records behind them), was: ever on the increase, and indications pointed • to another record year. Not only in New • Zealand had the demand greatly Increased; but. inquiries from other countries were comIng forward with grenter frequency. Ex- < portaticns bad been made to Java, South: Africa, Australia and Fiji, record prices having * been paid. a. fact on which the breeders rrere« to be complimented. It looked as if a very: fine export trade in Friesi.ins would be built j up in the ne.Tr future, and to assist In this < direction it was imperative that bredeers must ‘ breed from the best blood and devote par-; ticular attention to rearing their animals. ■ Though they held all the records for milk and I butter-fat there could be no resting on their ; oars and every member must do his utmost i to put a certain number of cows on semi- ! official test. Splendid prices had been real- = ised for anything of good quality at clearing i and surplus sales. The number of cows put: under semi-official test had been a record, ; being 105. They new had 165 cows and ■ heifers that had given over 500 lbs of fat, i viz., 101 over 500, 46 over 600 lbs, 12 over i 700 lbs, 3 over 800 lbs and 3 over 900 lbs. • During this year some very fine records would j be put up, several cows lui,lng already nearly! , completed their lactation periods with records ; greatly above the average. Nearly 300 calves I had been entered for the first Friesian Derby,! and this number should be substantially in- 1 creased this year, so that tte competition i when in full swing should create considerable I interest. The entries in the herd book had) i also been a record; comprising 720 males and; : 1293 females, an Increase of about 100 males : and 200 females over the previous year, the [ total entries to date being 3928 males and 19217 females. The appendix females were I now reduced to 40. Regret was expressed i that breeders had not come forward with en- * tries for the first Friesian breeders’ consignment sale more freely, only 12 having entered out of 600 members. Thanks were expressed to the Dairy Division for tkelr splendid work in assisting to build up the dairy industry. In moving its adoption, the president pointed out that there had been progress all along the line. There had also been an Increase In the number of cattle exported, and from the nature of the cattle in the country and the nature of the country we possessed, ho believed this countrygjwas destined to "become . the great breeding ground for the South Pacific. This was a matter for congratulation. Mr. Hunt seconded the adoption, which was carried with but little discussion. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follows:—President W. D. Hunt (Wellington) ; vice-presidents, J. Liggins (Palmerston North) and G. Aitcheson (Kaitangata) ; treasurer, J. Liggins; auditor, F. L. Sims; members of council, W. E. Gil! (Upper Hutt), H. R. Green (Palmerston North); H. E. Johnson (Tokaora), and .1. H. Parkinson (Opotlki). District committees left in hands of various districts to nominate tARANAKI REMITS. A remit was received from Taranaki urging tie appointment of a secretary to devote his full time to the affairs of the association. Mr. Marchant, in moving this, said that while quite satisfied with the present secretary, the time had arrived when the association should be able to pay for the full services of a secretary, who could attend all agricultural shows and clearing sales and give a fund of Information to all breeders throughout tho Dominion. The secretary should also be an organiser, as there were new fields waiting to be tapped. After further discussion a recommendation was made that the council should appoint a full tlune secretary. On behalf of Taranaki Mr. Marchant moved that it be a rccoinmendaUnn to the council to establish an advanced register of merit, the minimum requirement of butter-fat to be double the standard required to receive the C.O.R. This I’e considered would prove a great advertisement for the breed. It would mean that a mature cow in the advanced register would have produced 700 lbs of fat A resolution recommending the association to establish a live stock agency was lost. On behalf of Taranaki Mr. Marchant moved' in the direction of having meetings of the council held quarterly in different centres. He stated that the Taranaki district committee Avas a live body with headquarters at Stratford and holding meetings In various centres, and they would be pleased to meet the council at any centre in Taranaki, say Hawera, where there was a winter show that was running Palmerston very close.

Mr. W. R. Wright seconded the resolution, which was carried.

Mr. Marchant moved that an official demonstration be appointed. In this connection he pointed out what the Jersey breders had done by appointing Mr. Watson, w’ho was preeminent In tbe breed, honorary demonstrator The remit was carried. GENERAL. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the retiring president, It being stated that he was Responsible for the name HolstelnFrieslan being changed to Friesian throughout the world, with the exception <tf Aimerica. One hundred and sixty-three new members were elected and a number of new herd names were approved. A remit recommending the association to continue giving the subsidy on fat Friesian bullocks exhibited at shows was lost. A motion moved by Mr. Marchant that the association present a set of herd books to any A. and P. Society giving £2O or over to the regular schedule for Friesian cattle was lost. The president said he thought that it would be a splendid idea, if finances would permit, of a judge being brought out from Holland to judge through the shows in New Zealand jind to follow this up the fololwing years with judges from America and England. It was considered by speakers that this would do good. Members thou'ght it could be (managed by increasing their subscription, but the discussion ended without any decision being arrived at. Mr. W. R. Wright touched on the question of solids in milk, but owing to the lateness of the hour the matter was not discussed. Mr. Marchant considered that three medals should bo given to class winners in each section. Touching on the divergency of high-testing and low-testing milk, he said that there was a difference of as much as 10 per cent in the make of cheese per pound of butter-fat from Okawa Bay, where the test was low, and Tariki, where the test was tdgh, and this was an avenue that they might well look into.