IMMATURE CALVES

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20267, 9 August 1937, Page 11

IMMATURE CALVES

MINISTER'S WARNING. HUMANE HANDLING LAWS. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. The responsibilities of those engaged in the bobby-calf trade were referred to by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, in an interview to-day. The Minister stated that a number of people engaged in this trade seemed to be unaware of the reguhjtions governing the selling and slaughtering of bobby calves, and as a result misunderstandings and friction had been created. Mr Lee Martin pointed out that under the regulations governing the trade it was an offence to sell a oalf which had not been properly and sufficiently fed daily from time of birth, and which had not been fed within four hours of its actual removal from the seller’s premises. In any proceedings brought under this regulation the burden of proof lay on the defendant. It was also an offence to purchase, drive or convey a oalf which appeared to be unfit by reason of weakness or immaturity to be driven or conveyed to a place where It was Intended to be slaughtered for human consumption. The maximum penalties for any breach of these regulations were £2OO in the case of an individual and £IOOO in the case of a company. "Underweight immature oalves are condemned at the works,” said the Minister, "and in order to avoid such rejection an arrangement was arrived at last season between. the buyers and their carriers that calves weighing under 481 b would not be lifted from the farm gate. This minimum weight of 481 b has been found in practice to return 231 b 14oz at the works —that Is, the minimum weight to obviate rejection for immaturity. Obviously, the aim should be to forward calves of a live weight exceeding 481 b, and most well-nourished calves three days old and over are well In excess of this minimum.”

The Minister also drew attention to fbp proviisons of clause 7 of the Police Offences Act, 1927, which lays down that every person is liable to a. fine not exceeding £2O, or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding two months, who cruelly ill-treats any anlm.V, falls to provide it with sufficient food, water or shelter, or causes any unnecessary pain and suffering.