AUCTION SALES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 62, 6 December 1919, Page 14

AUCTION SALES

ffOETHOOiCNQ FIXTURES. TO-DAY. Lambton Quay, ■Wellington, 1.30 p.m.—Sale of bulbs and plants (A. h .Wilson). Joliusonville, 1,30 p.m.—Furniture sale (Dux Co.). TUESDAY. A. and P, Rooms, Masterton, 2.30 p.m.— Land salo (Levin and Oo.). Plimmorton, 11 a.m.—Furnituro salo (JolinBton and Co.). Mercury Bay Yards, 11.30 a.m.-Land salo

(Farmers' Co-op. Auctionecrinr; Co.). AVtiitmoro Eoad, Linton, 12 noon—i Hock sale (Dalgety and Co.). 195 Lambton Quay, Wellington, 1 p.m.— Salo o£ pictures (llarcourt and Co.). Lovin Yards, 1 p.m.—Stock sale (N.Z. Loan Co., Dalgety and Co., and Abraham . and Williams).

SCARCITY OF PIGS STEADY DECLINE IN SUPPLIES. Speaking at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Meat Packing and Bacon Company (C0.0p.), (formerly the New Zoahmd Farmers' Co-operative Bacon and Meat Packing Company, Ltd.), hold in Wellington on Thursday, tho Hon. J. G. W. Aitkon, M.L.C., who presided, said that tho year's operations had 6hown a further doceaso in tho number of pigs handled. This had been owing to the lessened production throughout New Zealand, attributable in a measure to the want of foodstuffs being available. Tho manufacture of dried milk in many districts had meant a very considerably reduced supply of pigs, and until euch times as the producer took up the fattening in a systematic manner, and looked to other than the dairy for food supplies, they could not hope for much improvement in the pork supply. "It is to be regretted that moro attention is not given to this important industry," added the speaker. "For 6omo time past importations of hams and bacon have been mado in order to in a very small measure meet tho Now Zealand requirements. This year, for the first time for many years past, a remission of the import duty was mado to allow of a quantity of bacon heing imported into our market. Encouragement in the way of high prices has not been wanting. The highest rates ever paid in New Zealand were given last season. Indeed, the buying rates in relation to tho proclaimed price left little margin in the business. In comparing the number of pigs available in New Zealand, I find that 40 years ago the total was 207.000, as compared with 235,317 for 28 years ago the total was 303,812. So that, in comparing the number available to-day, I find we are approximately 73.405 short of the quantity avnilnblo ns far back as 1591 —23 years ago —while the increase in the number of sheep for the samo period was 7.700,308, and cattle increased by 2,203,617. In other word'!, the pig supply in New Zealand hai decreased to tho extent of 23 per cent., while tho increase in cattle is 205 per cent., and the increase in sheep is 42 per cent. Bnt seeing that New Zealand's pork products aro practically sold in the Dominion, the decrease in the. pig supply in relation to the population is very much greater, for in 1891 the number of pigs available per I'ead of population was .49: in 1919, this had decrease! to .21 jer hnad of population. The profit and loss ncrount shows 3s, 10'!. available for distribution, and it is rewnimended that the amount should be d n alt with as follows:—To d»clarp n dividend of C ppr cent, on the A and B preference shares and ordinary shares, £~?M: to add tn tp'»ptvo fund, lfsjviuff an amount to carry forward of £1235 3s. 10(1."