SUBSTANTIAL RISE IN PIG MEAT PRICES

Chronicle (Levin), 4 October 1946, Page 5

SUBSTANTIAL RISE IN PIG MEAT PRICES

Press Association

Rii Te.learav'h —

■WELLINGTON, Oct. 3. New prices for export pig meats were •aunounccd today by tli'e Alinisfer of Marketing, Hon. B. Eoberts. Operatiye from October 1, the export schedule in the fXorth Tsland will be: Porkers (i0-1201bs., SJd per lb. and bacpners 121-HiOlbs., 8|d. The existing difl'erentials for baciuers 101-1751bs. and 17(5lSolbs. will be maintained but the winter price increases will not apply in future. The Alinister said that in thc reecnt adjustment in bulk jjurchase contract prices arranged with the British Government, an additional increase of 5 per cent. in the prices for pig meats was given for the express purpose of oncouraging production for export and it was in line with this that the additional prices had been given producers. The new prices should go a long way to giving the producer an incentive to increase pig meat production and so enable experts to Britain to be inereased substantially. " I am gratified an agx-eement has been reached on the new seasou's schedule prices for pig meats," stated Afr. Brian Keiller, deputy cliairman of the National Pig Industry Council. "The rises of 2,}.l a pound on porkers and a ponnv a pound on baconers, bring the schedule prices for these two classes of meat into line. In future the winter pi'ice movemcnts in the schedule will be discontinued. "Producers are aware that the worldwide restriction on cereal foodstuffs was l'ollowed by a lieav}' drop in the production of pig meats in the United Kingdom. Consequentlv, consumers there are rclying more than ever on the overseas jiroduction of this class of meat. In granting this season 's increase the Government has taken cognisanee of this fact and of the United Kingdom Government 's request that ihe production of pig meats in this country be given everv eneouragement. The increase on the two classes of pig meat has been designed to encourage a greater production of porkers. From a sliort term jioint of view this is desirable for it is in this field that production can be inereased rapidly. From Ihe long term point of view it is also desirable as indications are that. the demand overseas when free trade is resumed, will again be for qualitv porkers. Inereased production this season is essential and producers are urged to ' ihako eVerv effo'iT'td see' that the'gesture of the United Kingdom in granting pig meats a greater increase in price than other classes of meat, speciiically to encourage production, does not fail to produce the anticipated results. " ATr. Keiller expressed appreeiation of the valuable assistance given by the Xew Zealand Aleat Producers' Board in placing the case for the pig industry before the Government.