WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

THE PIG INDUSTRY. (Special to “ Guardian.”; ' WELLINGTON, Aug. 1. !

At a representative gathering of those interested in the pip; industry held at Palmerston North recently con-

sideration was given to the question ot Government subsidy to set the industry on a proper looting, to the formation of a scheme similar to the Paterson scheme operating in Australia, and finally to the formation of a federation to encourage the production and cs--pertation of pork and bacon, and tile endeavour to stabilise the price. The Government subsidy is to he given on pigs exported through co-operative channels that do not realise at least dpi per lb. and the subsidy suggested is 940.000. It will be very difficult for the promoters to justify such a gift as IMO.OOO Irom the Government for the available evidence shows that the pig industry must he making .someheadway, otherwise there would not lie the steady increase in the number oi pigs as is shown by the stock returns. 1 On January 61st last the Dominion possessed 516,201 pigs as compared with -172,531 in January, 1026, and 462.778 in January. 1025. Compared with last year there is an increase of 46.070. and conquered with two years ago an increase of 86,120. In two years there has been an increase of nearly 20 per cent which does not indicate that the industry ,is in danger of extinction or even that it is languishing. Other statistics show that the proportion of all herds of [rigs sent to ham and bacon factories was 42 per cent in 1021, 45 per cent in 1025, and 10 per cent in 1920, while in 1910 it was 60 per cent. The limn and bacon industry progressed no doubt at the expense of the pork industry and mainly because a good market was available in Australia, but that market is certain to be closed in the near future, when the export of pork will no doubt receive attention. The subsidy it will bo noted is to be paid on pigs exported through co-operative channels which indicate that farmers are u> handle the business. What the co-operative meat freezing works have demonstrated most emphatically is that it is desirable to have “ less farmers in business and more business in farming.'’ The most the Government can he legitimately called upon to do is' to provide instruction and to import and maintain at the experimental' farms the most suitable breeds for pork production. The country cannot afford to subsidise an industry that on statistics shows much progress. TAXING TilE PRODUCERS. j The Control Hoards depend for their finance on the levy which is coi'loctcd by the Customs Department, which of course charges a small fee for doing so. This levy is of course a tax on the producers, and that being so it is imperative that the amount so extracted from them should not in any year exceed the amount required for carrying on the normal operations of the

Hoard imposing the tax. Attached to the report of the -Meat Producers’ Hoard recently issued arc the accounts for the year, and these show that the levy lor the year, less the cost of collection. produced £31.275. ami the interest on the Hoard’s investments yielded L'2772. the total income for the year being 9,44.049 against £31,073 in the previous year. The total expenditure for the year, including depreciation on office furniture, etc., and writing off a smal loss incurred on the disposal of plant and cabinet in High Commissioner’s office, totalled .921,095, anu the excess of income over expenditure was thus .912,952. The prod lit—ers have been over-taxed to this ex-; font, and the producers, who have la , practice very rigid economy, should not j he over-taxed in this manner. The! Dairy Hoard has reduced its levy by. 50 per cent, and the .Meal Hoard by; exercising a little economy ean easily do the same. The latter has 959,000 ingested in Government securities, and the amount received in interest during 1 the past year was 92,772. Of the total expenditure of 921.096 no less than Cl 5.6(2 went in salaries, and there' was besides a substantial sum allowed lor travelling expenses. This shows' "lint a profitable thing the Hoard is

i or some people. ] he* producers oannoi afford tlio luxury of so many boards levying excessive amounts on produce, in*any event since the operations of ali the boards cover the same ground, they c:in be amalgamated to advantage under a new and competent business board ol say three members,

Bisthop Taylor-JJmitfh, recently through the Dominion, asked when lie was going to smoke replied, “When I am cremated.’ No friend of the weed evidently? Well, that’s his loss. Tobacco is often reviled by those who don’t like it but so long as the quality is good, and it doesn’t contain an excess of nicotine its use may be considered rather beneficial than otherwise. “Smoker’s throat,” “smoker’s heart” and smoker’s nerve troubles all arise from too much nicotine in the tobacco. The purest tobaccos are grown right here in New Zealand. They contain a very small proportion of nicotine, and so may be smoked, pipeful after pipeful, with impunity. As to quality there is nothing to beat them for flavour and aroma. That is largely owing to the fact that the leaf is toasted (quite a new idea) in the course of manufacture. These excellent brands are in various strengths (to suit all smokers). Ask your tobacconist for “Rivorhoad Gold” mild. “Navy Cut” (Bulldog), medium or “Cut Plug No. 10,” (Bullsbead) full. They are all toasted.—Advt.