PRICE OF PIG FOOD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 83, 22 June 1943, Page 6

PRICE OF PIG FOOD

FARMERS SEEK PROTECTION

The price of pig food came before the annual Auckland Provincial Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union on May 27, when the following remit was moved by Mr H. C. Jackson (Hay of Islands): '"That the Government be urged.

in view oi the shortage of pig meats, to make available suitable feed ut a reasonable price, even if such action involve a subsidy .from tjie War Expenses Account." The mover said that very I'Htt,le' pig feed was now available, in New Zealand. Unless they could get it at a reasonable price satisfactory production could not be expected. Mr R. C. (Mark said there "was a margin of £55.000 between the sum paid for New Zealand pig meat by the United Kingdom Government and that received by Ihe suppliers. This balance,, or some of. it should be returned to the. producers in the form of a pig feed subsidy. The Provincial Secretary (Mr A. E. Robinson) said that the Union was opposed on principle to subsidies. It wanted fair price*—not help by means of political pressure. Now, 'howe.ver, they were obliged, owing to the unusual conditions, to seek a subsidy. The Minister of Marketing had been applied to several times, but had point blank refused to do anything. Many things that could be done had not been done. They had had to go to tha Prime Minister himself, in several cases in an elfort to obtain reasonable terms. Pressure should be. exerted for all they were worth. An amendment to the etl'ect that an application be made for an increase in the. price paid for pig" meat Avas negatived.. One delegate said this had already been refused. The motion "was. carried. The following Ray of Islands remit: "That an explanation besought for the dill'erence of, 2d per lb that Australian farmers are getting for their pig meats in excess of New Zealand rates . as reported in 'Straight Furrow' 15/3/43, page 4,' was adopted without discussion.