FROZEN PIG MEAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20083, 1 November 1939, Page 11

FROZEN PIG MEAT

HIGHER RETURN LIKELY DOMINION FARMERS PURCHASE BY BRITAIN (Por Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Commenting on the Imperial Government’s purchase of the exportable surplus of frozen pig meat, Mr. W. A. Phillips, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Co-op Pig Marketing Association, said that under the existing handling conditions and buying practice, the on-the-hooks equivalent of the price would enable a considerably higher payment to be made to the farmer than the average ruling last year.

It would appear from the statement by the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, that an undertaking had been given to Hie Imperial Government that tlie grading of all meat during the period of the contract would be kept under strict control. It could therefore be assumed that it is the intention to continue the recognised trade practice of paying differentials for quality within specified weight ranges. Such a course would be highly desirable if the prestige now enjoyed t'or our product on the English market is to be maintained for the return of normal trading conditions.

Although the Imperial Government had now acceded to the request to take some porker weights, the purchase of these had been limited to only 25 per cent of the total exports of weights over 1001 b. Special consideration shown on this important aspect of the position would be greatly appreciated by the producers, who would require the utmost assistance possible to carry 75 per cent of their production into dead weights of over 1001 b.

Pending an agreement on detailed procedure with the Government, a revised schedule of hook prices to conform with the new order could not be determined, but these would be sufficiently attractive to ensure continued keen interest in production.