BACON INDUSTRY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 285, 21 March 1941, Page 5

BACON INDUSTRY

SHORTAGE OF SHlirJriJNij UJfAtJiS ADVICE TO FARMERS "On March 12th-the Minister of Marketing announced that a crisis had arisen from the sh<(tage of refrigerator space in shipping. This lias adversely effected our bacon exports and we must now rely on the local market for the consumption: of our bacon products," states aa announcement recently made by Mc D. S. Ross, president of the Bay of Plenty District Pig Council. '-Unfortunately, we consume a large proportion of our ? baconers within thes country, but it is necessary that wo reduce our tonnage of bacon as soon, as possible in order to cause as lit-; tie confusion in this industry locals ly and thus take full advantage o£ the local market.

"Pork at the present time is still exportable up to 1201bs weight, so we would be well advised to concentrate on pork immediately and thus avert as much as. possible any further upheaval in the bacon position. If we send our baconers away\ even at higher weights as arrangements can be conveniently made totake them into the different works the bacbner position will be improved and will be helpful in the coming season. - "There will be no object now in! increasing weights by the use of supplementary feeds and farmers should limit their bacon and pork production to their milk supply and conserve their supplementary feeds wh£re possible Ic winter and springuses.

Last Friday, March 14, a committee was set up in Wellington representing producer and trade interests under the Chairmanship of the* Minister of Marketing, and within, a short time bring down a report and recommend some policy to the Government to deal with the posi-* tion. As soon as concrete proposals are framed concerning a future policy, further information will be available to ycu.

"The position of the producer is being watched very closely and carefully and I have confidence that every consideration will be given the difficult position -in which the industry finds itself. Farmers areadvised not to incur any further capital expenditure in connection, with the industry at the present time. In the meantime, our object should be. to adopt a policy where reductions in weights in /botty pork and bacon can be brought about."