PIG INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 6

PIG INDUSTRY

GRADING SYSTEM URGED

OPPOSITION TO GRAIN DUTIES

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

PALMERBTON N., This Day. Matters of vital importance to the pig'industry of Njew' Zealand tamo before' the Dominion-wide jonference of breeders and curers yesterday,' when the principal of grading of pigs cured for home and export trado-was affirmed, and a'inotion was also passed asking for the' abolition of all duties on stock foods. . ■ " ■- • ' ■'■•■• The committee elected at the morning's 'session brought- forward the followins recommendation: "That representations be made to the Minister that, the necessary regulations be gazetted.to enablo the Meat Producers' Board to take over full control and accept the responsibility for the grading of all pigs killed at the meat slaughterhouses, and stamp the same as having been graded, also that a differential payment be made according to the grade."- _ It was announced that the xommittee had carried this ; resolution by- 6 votes; to 3... .. .'j"' •'.- '■■... '.; •;', ■'; Mr. S. H. Jtidd (Waikato) said he had; been responsible for the resolution. It was not-intended to cover' all pigs at 'present, but it was felt' that this was the most' practical: sclieme that could' tie brough into' force 'without any extra expense. The Meat Board had legislative authority to grade pigs, but the regulations required to be gazetted. The big advantage of the committee's finding was that grading could bo instituted immediately. : Dolegates objected to the committee's finding on the ground that it did not grade, bacpners used in the New Zealand trade. It was stated that unless this was done the whole object of the' conference would be lost. Mr. E.. P. Neilsen, who moved the original resolution to ask the Government to pass legislation making it Essential to grade .al? pigs bought for curing or export, pointed out that his mo'tioJi covered the point at issue, arid the conference agreed to ie-accept it as an amendment to the committee's finding.. The amendment was carried, arid after a discussion lipon the merits of buying on book.,weights "aiid necessity for a uniform percentage of shrinkage,.':, the conference decided to add to the amendment tho> words: "On book weights." ■■ i ■'; ■.. '~'■:' The amendment was then put aa the motion, and carried. » The Hon. E. Newman introduced the question of duties on stock foods, and moved the following resolution, which was carried unanimously: , "Whereas the price that the farmers in New Zealand receive for all' live stock and live stock products iproduced by them is governed by the export parity, thusmaking it necessary for New Zealand; live stock farmers to produce at the. world's lowest .prices,l and whereas grains and concentrated foods of various" kinds essential to economical live stock production, particularly -for balancing- and concentrating the rations of pigs, poultry, and to.lesser extent dairy stock, and whereas' New Zealand, while being one of the finest grazing countries in the world, does not produce grains suitable for stock foods, a', the world parity prices, this meeting resolves that the Government be asked to remove the duties on all; grains and: concentrated foods required for stock foods, and thus jenable ■ the New Zealand farmers to obtain these stock foods at. the-world's competitive prices." The sugg«stion;that the maize growers' should receive a Ibounty for three years after the. removal of-the duties was not entertained,- it being considered that a small section of farmers should not hold up a growing industry like the pig1 industry. 1 . ■. Mr: Newman stated ■ that Argentine maize cottld be landed in the, Dominion at 3s per bushel, j . ' ■ . ,'.. • ■