Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 081
Image details
| Year | 1940 |
|---|---|
| Transcription |
|
| OCR Text |
150 MILK RECORDS. It must, of course, be clearly understood that the milk records compiled under this scheme are purely unofficial unauthenticated records, and have no connection with the oflicial authenticated milk records of the Association. But from letters received and opinions expressed by members, it is evident that very useful guidance may be obtained from the records. PROSPECTS FOR MILK RECORDING. The immediate prospects for the Association’s schemes of milk recording have become deeply overshadowed by the war, which broke out on 3rd September. Throughout the last Great War, 1914-1918, milk recording was carried on in Scotland without a break, as work of national importance in home food production, and the State grant in aid was continued, and considerably increased each successive year as costs generally advanced. A gradual change over from men to women recorders, as the former left for military service, was efiected without any very appreciable effect on the efficiency of the recording. But as shortage of skilled dairy farm labour developed and scarcity of cattle feeding-stuffs became acute, and other difficulties directly or indirectly due to war conditions increased, the total membership of milk recording societies fell considerably year by year, till at the end of the war in 1918 it stood at approximately only two- thirds. The administrative staii, however, was maintained at practically full strength, and fully authenticated milk records were obtained throughout. The whole organisation was kept unimpaired, and ready for the rapid expansion which took place after the war ended. A somewhat similar experience was naturally expected during this war, though it was hoped that as milk recording was now more firmly established in a larger number of Scottish dairy herds the drop in membership would be relatively smaller. Last time many members of local societies decided and arranged to discontinue milk recording for the duration of the war before it was definitely known that milk recording would be kept going and officially recognised as work of national importance in the emergency. On this occasion, however, steps were immediately taken to advise all members in advance to continue milk recording unabated, as a war measure. Then came a ‘bombshell’ from London. The Ministry of Agriculture intimated that the exchequer grant in aid of milk recording in England and Wales would be suspended as from 31st October 1939, on grounds of economy in State expenditure and conservation of administrative staff for more essential war services; though officially the work was still MILK RECORDS. 151 considered of national importance in time of war. The farmers Were urged to continue a scheme of. milk recording on as extensive a scale as possible on the basls of self-support. Though this attitude of the Ministry to rmlk recording was strongly protested against by the local. secreties through the Central Council of Milk Recording Societies in England and Wales, and the matter at a later stage was discussed in the House of Lords, the Government adhered to their. decrsron. Subsequently a modified scheme of milk recording for war- time for England and Wales was decrded upon, and put into operation, assisted by grants from the prmcrpal dairy breed societies. Among other changes, with a View to economy in working, the number of Official inspection tests was reduced by one-half—namely, from tests at intervals of Six weeks to tests at intervals of twelve weeks ; and only four butter fat tests in the year were made necessary. I . i This experience in England at once raised a Similar difi‘iculty in an acute form in Scotland, and assurance was immediately sought in official quarters that the State grant a1d of milk recording in Scotland would be continued. Differences in the two systems of milk recording were strongly urged as reasons for continuing the grant in Scotland. For mstance, the recording dairy farmers in England were already fully equipped individually with milk-weighing apparatus and experienced for carrying on a system of semi-officlal milk recording at relatively small expense, while in Scotland this was not so. The strongest representations were made to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, and a deputation from the Executive Committee was received by the Depart- ment. But evidently the position in Scotland had already been compromised by the English decision. The best result that could be obtained was that the grant in Scotland would be continued till 31st March 1940, the end of the financial year for which a grant had already been approved. As in higland, the members in Scotland were urged to continue a scheme of milk recording on a self—supporting basis. The Executive Committee carefully and anxiously con- sidered the whole position in view of the withdrawal of State aid. They decided to continue the scheme of official milk recording during the war years, and to adhere to the present system as closely as possible so far as finance would permit, making every effort to maintain the position already so successfully built up. But they found it would not be possible to obtain contributions from the local societies sufficient to meet the cost of the present administration. They, therefore, felt compelled to adopt a scheme of retrenchment and re- organisation in stafiing. As a result of this decision important control services are to be dispensed with, and a severe reduction is also to be eflected in the clerical staff. Control of recording |
| Title | Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 081 |
