567 



which have stood the test of experience were evidently drawn 

 up by men of this class. There are no honorary subscribers. 



The number of cows insured at the present time is 330. 

 During hist year the subscriptions received from members 

 totalled £205 16s. Od.; the amount paid for losses was dBlOB, 

 and the credit balance on the year's working amounted to 

 £'93 Is. 3d. The reserve fund is not allowed to accumulate to 

 an undue extent; it now stands at £200 on mortgage and £153 

 at the bank. Last year was a good year for the society; on the 

 other hand the previous year resulted in a loss on the year of 

 £159 13s. lid., the cow^ mortality being much above the 

 average. 



Owing to the increase in the value of cows, the cost of 

 insuring a cow for one year has been increased from 6s. to 12s. 

 Seventy-five per cent, only of the certified value of the cow is 

 paid to the member; this is a sound rule as it tends to keep 

 out undesirable animals, and negligence when a cow is ill is 

 not encouraged. The important official of a society of this kind 

 is the marker, who should be a good judge of cattle. In estab- 

 lishing a new society, payment of subscriptions in advance 

 helps greatly until funds have been accumulated to withstand 

 the drain of an abnormal season. 



]Maxy complaints have been received by the Ministry as to 

 the adulteration and misdescription of articles sold as food for 



_ . .. - poultrv, and it has often appeared that 

 Protection of ^ . • ' p xt, ^ 



Purchasers of P^^^^^T keepers are unaware of the steps 

 14. Ti J which thev can take under the existing law 

 Poultry Foods , . /' i , mi ■ ■ ^ k i. 



Under the protect themselves. The prmcipal Act 



_ . .. _ of ParHament bearing on the subject is 



JLXistmg l.aw. Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1906. 



Section 1 (2) of this Act provides "that every person who 

 sells for use as food for cattle or poultry any article which has 

 been artificially prepared shall give to the purchaser an invoice 

 stating the name of the article, and whether it has been pre- 

 pared \vom one substance or seed or from more than one sub- 

 stance or seed, and in the case of any article artificially prepared 

 otlierwise thi[u by being mixed, broken, ground, or chopjx^d, 

 what aie th.e respective percentages (if any"* of oil and albumi- 

 noids contained in the article, and the invoice shall have effect 

 as a waiTanty by the seller as to the facts so stated, except 

 that as respects percentages the invoice shall have effect 



