SEMI-OFFICIAL TESTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1922, Page 8

SEMI-OFFICIAL TESTING.

THE INCREASED FEES. / OPPOSITION BY BREEDERS. The decision of the Department of Agriculture to increase the fees for semi-official testing was discussed at a meeting of the New Plymouth Jersey Breeders’ Club yesterday, when general opposition to the proposed rise was expressed. The president of the club (Mr. H. B. Lepper) presided. A circular issued by the Director of the Dairy Division on this subject is as follows: “The department has found it necessary to review the fees charged to breeders for certificate-of-record testing. It has been ascertained that one result of the previous increase from three guineas per cow has been to increase the proportion of breeders testing only one or two cows. The increase in fee has, therefore, not decreased our loss in connection with this work as much as was desired. The greatest loss, other things being equal, is occasioned by a breeder who is testing only one animal. It is regretted that any action should be deemed necessary which may restrict the number of new testing breeders. It is, however, hoped that during the next season the testing- breeders may be testing a larger average number nf cows.”

The revised fees were stated as follows, the date of alteration being given as April 1: For the first cow or heifer, 10 guineas; for each subsequent cow or heifer, three guineas. “We trust,” the director concluded, “you will recognise in the above an attempt to meet the position in as fair a manner as possible.” THE SUGGESTED REDUCTION. The following motion was moved by Mr. E. Griffiths, secretary to the club: “This club is of the opinion that the raising of the c.ojt. test fee, to 10 guineas for the first cow and 3 guineas for each succeeding cow, will have a retrograde effect and tend to reduce, rather than increase, the number of cows tested.” The motion urged that as the increase would fall heavily upon the beginner the following scale should be suggested to the dairy division: 5 guineas for the first cow; 4 guineas for the second and third cows; and thereafter 3 guineas. Mr. Griffiths referred to the desire of the association to encourage the beginner at testing, and he said the high fee would be an obstacle to -this aim. He remarked that every country, even England, had votes for testing. It increased the output, and he thought the Government should bear part of the cost. He believed that if the department was approached it was possible they would meet the reasonable demands of breeders. The chairman said it seemed a big handicap to pay ten guineas for the testing of a cow, and the system was not as satisfactory as it might be. Mr. Lepper said there was something absolutely wrong in the way tests fluctuated.

In reply to an interjection, Mr. Lepper said he had not been over-feeding his cows. Continuing, he said the one-day test was not satisfactory. TWO DAY TEST ADVOCATED. Mr. F. Cornwall suggested that the club should advocate a two-day test. Mr. W.. Jury said he did not believe in the present system, but as regards the test, he had nothing to complain of. It had not gone back, but instead had risen steadily from 5.1 to over 6. Mr. H. C. Sampson said he thought they were over-stepping the mark in asking the department to reduce the fees from £lO 10s to £5 ss. He suggested it should be £7 7s for the first cow, 5 and 4 guineas for the second and third respectively, and 3 guineas per cow thereafter. The idea of the department was to do away with the man who was testing only one cow. He agreed with the chairman that the oneday test was not satisfactory. Mr. Sampson moved an amendment on the lines of his proposal. This was seconded pro forma by Mr. P. S. Petersen, who also suggested that they should invite Mr. Singleton, the director of the dairy division, to come to Taranaki to meet breeders. Mr. J. Poletti urged greater consideration in the matter of fees for the man. Mr. H. Stonex suggested that in some localities it would be possible for the testing officer to visit more than one farm per trip. The chairman endorsed this view. He thought the meeting would not be able to agree on the question of the scale of fees. However, he understood that Mr Singleton was to be present at the annual meeting of the association, to be held in Stratford in June, and this would be the opportunity to fight out the question. In the meantime they could write to the department expressing opposition to the big increase in the fees.

HELPING THE BEGINNER. Mr. Griffiths said the idea of his motion was to give assistance to the man who was beginning testing, and he thought it would be better if the terms of the motion were conveyed to the department, instead of expressing opposition in a general way. He also proposed to add to the motion the recommendation that the two-day test be reverted to, as this seemed to be the general opinion. Mr. Parkin suggested that it might be good policy for the association to guarantee a certain number of cows for testing at the reduced figure. In the course of further discussion Mr. Stonex explained that while he had thought the breeders testing could be grouped together in the case of his district for the purpose of the tester’s visit it could not be done in every case. He thought the pruning knife was being used too much in the dairy division, and that there was plenty of scope for economy in other departments. Mr. E. R. Bayly said he thought the department would be defeating its own ends by increasing the charge. It was neither business nor common-sense. The amendment was lost, and the original motion was then put and carried, with the addition of the recommendation in favor of a two-day test.

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