HERD TESTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 249, 19 September 1929, Page 7

HERD TESTING.

MANAWATU ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the executive ef the Manawatu Herd Testing Association was held to-day, Mr W. H. Gimblett presiding Also present were Messrs F. J. Legg, A. Montgomerie, A Hardham. R. W. Evans, F. W. Mills, W. S. Fell and F. Woods. The Department of Agriculture advised that a number of late applications for the Government subsidy had come to hand representing considerably more cows than was anticipated. It had now been found necessary to make the rate lid per cow for group testing and s)d for association testing. The amount which the Manawatu Association would receive, as a group testing organisation, was £763 19s. It was pointed out that the association was required to distribute the whole of this amount among 'the members. The distribution was liable to Government audit.—The letter was received. , . . The secretary reported that the Otaki district was canvassed with the help of three testing officers and the owners of nine or' ten herds had _decided to commence testing this spring, but, after addressing the annual meeting of suppliers of the Rahui factory, a full group was almost certain to _be formed in the autumn. Owing to the energetic canvassing of Mr S. Wilson two groups had been formed in the Bulls-Marton area. Two meetings or interested dairymen in the Wanganui district had been attended and toUU cows in 33 herds were available for testing. A group had been formed and there was a possibility of more herds coming in. If not sufficient for a second group, ■ a few herds could be taken into the Turakina group. , The chairman commented that xne position was satisfactory. Members had been joining up well and all the groups were full. There were now 14 groups, three of these being double 6 rou P s i Some discussion centred round travelling expenses. Mr. Evans suggested that officers using their ov. conveyances bo allowcd ld per cow a those using the association s conveyances 3d, the latter to be given th opportunity of purchasing the association’s cars. , r The chairman stated that most or the testers would rather use their ow ■conveyance at 3d per cow than use horse and cart provided by the association, even though they would be losing on the former proposition. Mr Montgomerie opposed tne grant inc of an allowance of 4d per oow. The finances of tho association woiua not stand it, he said. The chairman pointed out that oa had been paid in the past. Air Montgomerie moved that ofl P ei coy bo allowed all testers whether using their own vehicle or tho assocta Fell stated that it was not fair to pay the same allowanoe to a man using his own vehicle as to a man.u ing an association car. A man c not run his own vehicle for 3d a It would cost nearer 6d. , • Mr Montgomerie then altered h motion to read 3d a cow for those us ing their own vehicles, the allowa for those using the association s veyances to be considered at the 111 .Mr Evans the motion whKffi was earned despite a rurtner p bj lt M wasdecided to offer to association’s vehicles to thc> . them, the chairman and Mr appointed to discuss with the secre tary the price to be charged.