PIG-BREEDING IN N.Z.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19162, 19 November 1927, Page 16

PIG-BREEDING IN N.Z.

THE BACON INDUSTRY. [THE PBESS Special Servico.] WELLINGTON, November 18. "The pig-breeders of New Zealand should confine their attention uo raisitiy pigs up to 801b tor bacon lor the London market. The Dominion should establish its own curing works in England and employ a first-class English expert to do the curing there. If this were done, -New Zealand farmers would get a good deal more than thu 3d per pound which they are at present asking the Government to guarantee." The- above views were expressed today by one who has had a lifelong experience of tho pork industry. New Zealand breeders, he said, ■ should leave pork alone and should concentraio upon breeding for bacon. The Dominion breeders were misled by London brokers last season, who advised them to rush their pigs to the London market. The result was that all the pork arrived together and there was a drop in price- Another factor which militated against the success of the pork exported from New Zealand last year, he declared, was that carcases of unsuitable size were shipped Home. "What do you consider suitable weights for the London market?" he was asked. "I would not grow a pig beyond SOlb for bacon or beyond loOlb for pork," he replied. Pigs up to 1801b were shipped Home last year, and these were far too heavy for the English market. A farmer was losing money when lie continued to feed a pig after it had reached 1501b. The feed would lie more profitable going into young stock. Curing Works in England. New Zealand pig-raisers, he continued, should at once set about establishing their own curing works in England. These would not cost' anymore than the pig-breeders were now asking the Government for by way of subsicl}-. The works in England could bd all on the one floor and tho carcases could be shipped from New Zealand direct to the' works in England, where they could he cured by an English expert curer. If this were done, the bacon could be released as required, and this would prevent such a glut", as occurred last year. It may not be'generally known, he proceeded, that English pig-breeders had recently established bacon-curing works in Holland. An embargo was placed upon the entry of Dutch pork into England on account of the prevalence of foot and mouth disease on the Continent, but this difficulty was speedily got over. Not a word was said about barring Dutch bacon, and the English people quickly saw their opportunity. They established curing works in, Holland and turned the Dutch pork into bacon. Dutch porkwas harred, but Dutch bacon was not. This was another reason why prices slumped in London Mst year. If New Zealand breeders were to act on this suggestion and establish their own bacon-curing works in England, there was no reason why they should not get 7d a pound and more i'or their hivcon; This would be better than the 5d per lb they are now asking the Government to guarantee* . "We-want some new Tamworth and Berkshiro blood in New Zealand, and may soon be able to get it, as thero is a chance that Dr. C. J. lleakes, Director of Agriculture for the New •Zealand Government, who is at present in England, may succeed'with proper safeguards in getting tho embargo upon the oxport of live stock from England into New Zealand removed. It hac to be remembered that the amount or pork New Zealand produces is about equal to ono day's selling at London.. Nevertheless, properly developed and handled, there is money in bacon, and therojs no' reason ■ why New Zealand should not build up a lucrative industry." METAL TRADES IN BRITAIN. Slightly improved conditions have recently' been evidenced in the iron and steel trade*, •' says the latest Bulletin issued by the Department of Overseas Trade, and although the actual business passing.is not o£ large dimensions the volume of the enquiries rei^ lV . a l/. nCOU ;? S u es . tha h °P e that * he revival n V?. ' y h,ch "ejected *° take place cha r t a 3 c 9 ter aUtUmU> W,U bo ™»stantial P «» ,i«i'V u .i tßta ? din| l. tot"™ in the British fiJl ', l l", bm tho introduction on September Ist of a system of cash rebates pU?S i n C]l «°S aumer 8 °f British steel dotniti d T " Br i tain ' Ireland, and ho Insh Free State are offered, provided m n f.»f.°i n i ie the , ,r P urch <"es of the denned materials to makers who are signatories to the scheme, 7s 6d per ton on joists and ,^ Per . ? n °n. ordinary quality steel plates and steel sections, the latter including angles toes, channels, bulb angles, bulb tees, plain bars, Z bars, round squares, hexagons,' and flats Provision is also made whereby under certain conditions buyers are entitled to receive a further rebate on joists only up to 5a per ton. The twenty-eight firms ™..'" signatories to this scheme include practically all the manufacturers engaged in the_ heavy steel industry in tho country. it may bo as well, in order to remove any misconception which may arise, to state that the scheme, to which wide publicity has been given in the British Press, is designed for the solo purpose of preserving the home market to British steel makers, and does not apply to mnterial sold for shipment oversens. In tho Cleveland pig iron market, following on further cuts in prices, rather more active conditions prevail, and the low figures at which iron is now .obtainable appear to havb been responsible for stimulating interest on the part of consumers abroad. The shipments Of pig iron during the month of August totalled 24,160 tons as against 12,562 tons in August of last year. During the first eight months of this year the exports have amounted to 155,847 tons, compared with 255,372 tons shipped in the corresponding period of last year. The National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers report that the number of furnaces in blast at the end of August was 165, a net decrease of nine sinco the beginning of the month. Production of pig iron in August amounted tp 596,100 tons, compared with 645,800 tons in July and 651,308 tons in June. The production includes 195,500 lons of hematite, 188,000 tons of basic, 159,700 tons of foundry, and 26,000 tons of forge pig iron. The production of steel ingots and castings amounted to 644.500 tons in August, compared with 657,100 tons in July and 747,300 tons in June. GEELONG R.S. AND S. WOOLLEN MANUFACTURING. Geeionc K. S. and S. 'Woollen and Worsted Cooperative Manufacturing Company, Ltd., in its report for the year ended August 31st, 1 !>'-", discloses ;i net profit, after providing £2550 for income-tax, of £18,903. To this amount is added £B376.brought forward from the previous year, making a total available of i' 27,280, of which .i'4BS6 goes to the payment of a dividend of 7 per cent, per annum, £20,000 is transferred to the reserve fund, and the remainder, £2391. is carried forward. The directors explain that the vapid development <if the business has taxed its financial resources, thereby necessitating the substantial additiou to "the reserve fund. Reserve fund used in the business was shown in the balance-sheet at August 31st at £BSOO. Of liabilities, Commonwealth Government Loan (secured by mortgage).stood at £53,500, and overdraft at the Commonwealth Bank against stocks at £BBOO, whilo sundry creditors were owed £15,731. Assets included buildings, valued at i' 26.605, machinery and. plant worth £C3,464, allowing in both cases for depreciation, and stocks on hand £66,001. Sundry debtors, less provision for discount and commission, owed the company £30,526.