£l00 LOAN PLAN FOR PIGGERY ACCOMMODATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 17, 8 November 1948, Page 5

£loo LOAN PLAN FOR PIGGERY ACCOMMODATION

Assistance For Small Breeders

At the Bay of Plenty District Pig Council Executive meeting on Thursday at Whakatane, copy of the following letter to the Secretary of the Federated Farmers of N.Z. (Inc.) from Mr H. M Pierson,- Superintendent of the Pig Industry, was received.:

“Arising from the resolution with reference to loans to farmers for erection or renewal of Piggery Accommodation carried at a recent meeting of the Dairy Section of your Federation, I have to advise that the scheme received the - support of the Minister of Agriculture, who indicated that since pig breeding, as distinct from pig fattening, is mainly in the hands of the small farmer, financial assistance might therefore be an important form of encouragement to the small pig! raiser to carry more sows. The Minister recommended to Cabinet that small loans to made available for the erection of extra sow accommodation or renewal of units- which have become obsolete. Cabinet has approved the scheme subject to the following conditions: 1. Loans to be made at the rate of up to £SO for each accommodation unit erected or improved. 2. Necessary advances to be made either: (a) through the State Advances Corporation where the farmer is already indebted to the Corporation on loan account, the Corporation to take additional security if necessary and to charge interest at the Corporation’s normal rate for loans of this nature; or (b) in all other cases,' through the Bank of New Zealand by way of overdraft accommodation secured on property. Interest to be charged at the normal overdraft rate. (Government guaranteed if necessary). 3. Loans to be subject to the joint recommendation of the District Pig Council Supervisor, and a member of the Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc.) who shall be appointed for the purpose by the Federation, and that the constructional work he inspected and, on completion, jointly approved by the persons just mentioned. 4. Regular payments to be arranged by means of factory orders. Application Procedure The necessary application forms will be printed by the State Advances Corporation and forms may be obtained from them and from Provincial and District Secretaries of Federated Farmers. Instruction and advice regarding site and location of piggery, and type or piggery or alteration, can be obtained from Mr A. F. Barwell, Supervisor, Bay of Plenty District Pig Council, Whakatane. “In view of the proposed introduction of compulsory grading standards to be adopted throughout New Zealand in October, 1949, it is envisaged that this loan scheme will be of very real benefit to the sfnall farmer carrying only a few brood sows,” said Mr Barwell on Friday. “It is the small man who does not fatten pigs but mainly supplies the store market that is primarily responsible for the aggregate number of pigs fattened. “While numbers of pigs were in short supply, what pigs were available were fattened to excess heavyweights, so that we have the ridiculous position of 40 per cent of the total kill giving a dressed carcase of over 165 lbs. “When it is realised by the producer that almost half the pigs , killed in New Zealand are undesirable from a trade and consumer - viewpoint, he will not be so antagonistic to compulsory grading as he was, say, 5 years ago. Very Real Need “To obtain the light weight finished pig, for which a premium will be paid, if will be necessary to have a greater number of pigs to consume the same amount of skimmilk, so we look to the small producer who supplies the store mar set to increase the number of his sows and to do this efficiently he must provide adequate farrowing accommodation for the increased number of sows carried. “To meet this very real need the Government through the State Advances Corporation is prepared to advance up to £IOO to assist farmers to obtain the necessary housing facilities. Where there is criticism lof the method of security.it must : be borne in mind that it is public money that is being spent and sane business methods must be follow- | ed.”