PIGS ON THE PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4425, 9 June 1922, Page 4

PIGS ON THE PLAINS.

A GROWING INDUSTRY. NEED FOR A BACON FACTORY. Though dairying Is at present the greatest industry on the Hauraki Plains there is another which, should soon rival dairying, and that is pig rearing Each year sees an increasing number of pigs on the Plains, and each year the buyers send away an inc-easing number to the bacon factories.' The grass grows so well on the Plains that, the pigs thrive well on it and require less attention in the matter of feeding. As an indication of the increase in the number of pigs, a few figures quoted by Mr. J. H. Nicholson, of Kerepeehi, are valuable. Five years ago he bought for the N.Z, Co-op. Meat Packing and Bacon Company approximately 1800 pigs. Four years later he bought for the same company between 3000 and 4000, and for the past year for the Kiwi Company he received 3000. He estimates the present Plains pig population at 12,000 or 13.000. Ip further remarks Mr. Nicholson, during the course of an interview with a “Gazette” reporter, said that when he first took up his residence on the Plains there was a great deal of paralysis and tuberculosis. He had made persona] inspection of most of the piggeries and had advised the owners to get rid o r . all the affected beasts. The advice was acted upon and Mr. Nicholson maintains that there had been a noted improvement in the. health of the pigs and that now very few diseased pigs will be found on the Hauraki Plains. There are mostly Berkshire and Yorkshire pigs on the Plains, though a number of farmers are now going in for a cross of Tamworth and Berk-' shire, mostly on the side of the Tamworth PROPOSED 'BACON FACTORY., There should most certainly be a bacon factory on the Hauraki Plains, said Mr. Nicholson who, continuing, explained that when the pigs are carried a long distance before they are killed there is a great deal of; shrinkage. The Kiwi Bacon Company closed its operations on the Plains because there was too much shrinkage during the journey to 'Palmerston North. Only 300 pigs pen week could be killed at the N.Z Co-op. Bacon Company’s Te Aroha factory, whipii was fed mostly front the Plains. Those which the Te Aroha factory could not deal with, were sent'on 10 Frankton. ■ The Frankton factory could not cope with the large numbe’’ •sent there, and some of the pigs were sent to Wellington. Besides a great loss beipg sustained on account of shrinkage, the cost of transport, wasalso heavy. Some pigs sent from Waitakarv.ru cost from 10s to 12s par head for transport. This fact in itself is an argument for a bacon factory on the Plains. Mr Baron of the N.Z. Co-op. MeatPacking and Bacon Company, had at one tune discussed a proposal to put

a factory on the Hauraki Plains. He had maintained 'that .the defective water was an obstacle, tut here it may te pointed out that the Ngatea butter factory is using the so called defective water and gained a first prize at the Waikato Winter Show. Drainage was a further difficulty. The factory’s drainage would have to be pumped from the factory drains on account of the Piako being tidal. Good drainage was an absolute necessity, and from the point of view of this fact only Kerepeehi would be the most suitable place for a factory. The Ngatea branch of the NZ. Farmers’ Union recently commenced an agitation to have a bacon factory on the Plains, and has invited Mr. Baron to attend one of the meetings. It is possible that Mr. Baron may be present at the next meeting, at the end of the month. There are a number impressed with the possibilities of the project, and if Mr, Baron can be equally impressed when he meets the Plains settlers the bacon factory may soon be an accomplished fact.