MARKETING OF PIGS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 74, 1 September 1947, Page 5

MARKETING OF PIGS

DAIRY SUPPLIERS DISCUSSION P.M.A. VERSUS PROPRIETARY FIRMS There was a sharp division of opinion at the Annual Meeting ( of Suppliers to the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company last Thursday on the question of marketing the pigs produced from the 7 Company’s Pig Farm at Edgecumhe. The point at issue was the method of disposing of the produce through existing ‘proprietary’ concerns or by means of' the co-operative organisation of the P.M.A.

Mr Mullins criticised the action of the Directors in last year marketing •entirely through a privately-owned company and sacrificing the principle of co-operation upon which the whole of the dairying industry was founded. He maintained that the proprietary companies had in the past torpedoed the co-operative • schemes, and he considered the action a very short-sighted one. Messrs. McCready, Dunning and IHaultain spoke in similar vein.

Mr G. King considered that unless the Company was prepared to patronise the P.M.A. it was undermining its own principles. He therefore moved that the Directorate be recommendedl next year to 1 market at least 50 per cent, of the pigs produced on the farm through the P.M.A. Mr Whitham seconded.

A voice: Does the P.M.A. kill pigs in a co-operative concern? Mr King: It used to, but the farm ers themselves undermined the scheme in the same in which we are in danger of doing today. Had the farmers . been loyal and supported it, they would be killing there today.

An amendment moved by Mr Alex McLean and seconded by Mr Caulfield to the effect that the matter of marketing the pigs be left to the discretion of the Directors with the recommendation that a percentage be disposed of through the P.M.A. ggve ' the meeting fresh food for thought.

Mr McCready was endeavouring to address the meeting when he was interrupted with the shout of ‘sit ■down.’

Mr McCready: “That chap doesn’t know me or he wouldn’t tell me to do that.” i.

When the laughter had died awa}*-, -Mr McCready pointed out that the New Zealand' farmer had created a ■co-operative scheme for the j-

ing of his butter which was the envy of the world. Why then, he asked could he not go the whole distance •and market his pigs and his bobby •calves try- the same proven system.

Mr Dunning mentioned the fact that the P.M.A. alone had been responsible for the increased prices for pigmeats, and in districts where it was not operating farmers were still receiving less than scheduled fates.

“The issue,” said Mr I. Gow, “is not one of price, but whether our interests are being safeguarded by the activities'of the P.M.A. making possible those attractive offers which we as a big company receive from time to time. I feel that we set a very poor example to the community by not supporting that principle upon which we base our entire activities as a company.” Mr C. R. Wilson deplored the fact that two organisations had been brought into collision at the meeting by speakers, who did not know the full story.

On being put to the meeting the amendment giving the Directors a free hand was carried, and the motion therefore lapsed.