H—3OA

The industry is also conscious of the necessity for the more humane treatment of bobby calves, and a big improvement has been noted in this direction during the past season. The Division has had the splendid co-operation of the' Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, pool Committees, carriers, and the Railways Department in endeavouring to alleviate any undue hardship where bobby calf traffic is concerned. The pool movement has continued to make steady progress. There are now 128 gazetted pools in operation, and for the period under review a total of 824,000 calves were handled. The total realization on bobby calves for the period under review has remained steady, while future realizations appear quite sound. VEGETABLES, 1944-45 SEASON The demand for green vegetables to meet the needs of Armed Services within New .Zealand and in the South Pacific area continued throughout the year to increase rapidly, the increase being mainly in the South Pacific area. It is pleasing to report that New Zealand met those needs without depriving the local public markets of adequate supply. Both commercial gardeners and the Services vegetable-production areas under direction of the Department of Agriculture deserve credit for the magnificient achievement. The favourable weather during December, 1944, and January and February, 1945, provided phenomenal yields of cabbage, carrots, and lettuce. Although this unexpected increase demanded a yet greater effort on the already overworked labour in gardens and factories, this extra effort was made, and the Armed Services received the benefit. The total value of this year's, supply was over £2,500,000. Fresh-vegetable packing is interlocked with dehydration and local marketing, the reason being that when fresh tonnage is received from the garden it is subjected to intensive grading, only the very best being selected for export. First- and second-grade vegetables not suitable for export are sold on the local markets, but if these markets are oversupplied, then these grades, together with the vegetables slightly damaged, are dehydrated and the product exported. Packing and processing factories were established at Pukekohe, Hastings, Motueka, and Riccarton. Some were in operation during 1943-44, but all were in full operation during the 1944-45 season. Table 1. —This table gives details of capital cost, number of employees, and general activities. Most of the equipment was obtained under lend-lease arrangements from the United States, but is shown in the table at full cost. Table 2.—This gives details of the overall tonnage turnover and the poundage throughout of each type of activity. Table 3. .This is a schedule of the quantity of each type of vegetable processed at the different factories.

Table 1

22

Capital Costs. Number of Employees. Factory. Buildings and Plants. Equipment. Activities. Pukekohe Hastings (Wattie's) .. Hastings shed 420,000 20,000 72,000 36,000 2,000 600-700 1 300-500 Fresh-vegetable packing, dehydration, canning, and quick freeze, and cool storage. Dehydration for Internal Marketing Division and canning for Food Controller. Fresh-vegetable packing and cool storage. Dehydration of apples. Dehydration. Motueka Riccarton 60,000 162,000 15,000 30,000 30-60 200-300