AUCTION SALES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 76, 23 December 1919, Page 10

AUCTION SALES

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES TO-DAY. 151 Lnmbton Quay, Wellington, 11 a.m.— Suhurbun property sale (Wilßon and Co.). Victoria Street Bast, Auckland-Sale of curioa (Douglas and Co.l. TO-WOBBOW. Garden Eoa<l, Wellington, 11.50 a.m.-Salo of carrying plant (Johnston and Co.). SHORTAGE OF PIGS WHAT ARE THE CAUSES? NO DAIRY WASTE PRODUCTS There has been complaint about the high price of bacon for somo ,time, and there has been remark also about a shortage of pigs. By some tho shortage of bacon pigs has been attributed to operations of some branch of tlio Trust. These questions were submitted to the Prime Minister yesterday. "I am afraid," said Air. Massoy, "that the causes arc more radical than any of those suggested. The real causes, in my opinion, of the reduction in the number of pigs fcre that there has been an increase in tho amount of dried milk manufactured, an increase in the amount of casein made in New Zealand, a general adoption of the practice in cheese factories of running the whey through the separator, and so saving the last ounce of butter-fat, so that in most factories as they are now conducted there are few waste products nsoful for pig feeding. I think the high price of bacon may be attributed to these factors.

"It has been suggested that a mill should be established in Auckland for the purpose of crushing copra from those islands under the control o£ New Zealand and extracting oil front it. This would leave a. substance which would bo exceedingly useful for cattlo food, similar to what . : s known as oil-cako in the Old Country. I think it would be a very good thing if something of the sort could be taken in hand, because it is in our interest to keep the bacon industry going, and even more important that we should rear as many young cattle ns possible, because, of course, the shortage of skim milk, and such by-products of the dairy industry is lending to the slaughter of more calves ihan would, otherwise be killed. On the other hand [ should add that even in the war period the number of cattle in the Dominion has increased bv over a million, and the increase should be even greater now that the war is behind us. and wo should settle down to a iwlicy of development."