PIGS ON THE PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4443, 21 July 1922, Page 2

PIGS ON THE PLAINS.

—-—-.p.— BACON FACTORY PROPOSAL. MR. S. C. BARON AT NGATEA. In connection with the movement to have a bacon factory erected on the Hauraki Plains, Mr. S. C. Baron, manager of the N.Z. Meat Packing and Bacon Co. (co-op.), Ltd., visited Ngatea, at the invitation of. the local branch of the Farmers? Union, to address the settlers.. It was, unfortunate that the unpropitipus weather, should have coincided with. Mr. Baron’s visit-, as the proposal is an important one for th.e Hauraki Plains, and a large number of formers were unable to attend. However, enthusiasm and great interest was shown by the fifteen or sixteen ■who did attend. The gathering was composed mostly of Ngatea men, but Waitakar.uru was also represented. Mr. Baron was accompanied by Mr. E. H. Eggleston (acting branch manager at Frankton). Mr. W. G. Hayward, president the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, occupied the chair. Mr. Hayward said Mr, Baron would be willing to cpme tp Ngatea again when there could be a representative gathering of all the Plains districts. The reason the local Farmers' Union had sent the invitation tp Mr. Baro.l was that the settlers had reebgnsied that the number of pigs being sept away from the Plains warranted Mr. Baron’s investigation into the possibilities of a factory, which, claimed the speaker, would lessen the cost of transport. I.t appeared feasible that if the district ihad enough pigs there should be a bacon factory there. Mr. Baron said it was .about 12 months since he had been in the district. and he had seen considerable changes. The Hauraki Plains seemed to be on the increase, and the company had got loyal support from it. In the bacon industry there appearel to be much misunderstanding, and these gatherings helped to dispel misapprehensions. The misunderstandings applied not. only to the producer, but also to the general public. He felt that with the growth of the dairy industry they must have a. large number of pigs tp handle. There had been a considerable shortage pf pigs in New Zealand. The production of his company had been 75,000 five years ago, 25,000 to 30,000 during the : last few years, and he expected this year the production would reach 60,000. During the war period, he thought, pigs had been cut out ofmany of the farms.

Continuing, Mr. Baron said he had not given much consideration to the factory proposal yet, as he wanted the settlers’ opinions first. There -had been a number of small factories scattered over the North Island, but that ihad been the means of competition, which was not the life pf trade, but the death of it, as far as the farmer was concerned. The formation of the butter pool was to control the market so that the producer; would not have to take a less price for his buttei-fat. He stressed the advisability and importance of co-operation. The bacon should be realising a higher price to-day than what it was. That fact was due to the number of different concerns in the field. When his company started they had one largs factory in Wellington. A factory near the markets was the best. It was much better to pay. cartage on a live pig than on the dead weight. It was easier to get rid of the by -products where there was a larger population. The bacon was smoked in Auckland city and distributed on. the markets. The company’s factories, excepf the Te' Aroha factory, had not been worked at more than half their capacities, which totalled about 100,000 p‘gs. The Te Aroha factory was the nearest to the Plains, and was capable of handling 4000 to 5000 pigs per year. Most ofi the Plains pigs went there, but it also drew its supply from other surrounding districts.

SUGGESTED CAPACITY. Mr. Ba.ipn further said he would not recommend the factory on the Plains unless they had about 10,000 pigs a year. A Tot of small concerns had started and gone out of existence in the last 25 years. Just what particular point the proposed factory would be at, he did not know. That would be for those more acquainted with the district to decide. The Plains with a bright future would have to be considered. THE SETTLERS.’ VIEWS. Mr. G. T. Davidson asked what factories were controlled by Mr. Baron’s company. Mr. Baren said there were four; at Hamilton, Taranaki, Wellington, and Te Aroha. Next season he heped the company would handle 80,000 pigs. Mr. French: Did the Plains only supplv 3000 pigs last year? Mr. Baron: Including Netherton and Hikutaia, I should say 6000. Mr. French: You say that it would not be payable unless we have 10,000 pigs a year ? Mr. Baron said that with his experience that was so. Mr. D. Green said that the Kiwi Bacon Company had taken away 300 J pigs last year, and with that the total would make 9000 for the Plains for a year. Mr. Baron: Then you must get the lot. Mr. Davidson considered that a factory in the district would attract more pigs than the company would otherwise get. Mr. French asked the price for dead-weight from Ngatea: to Auckland. Mr. Hayward replied that the price was 16s per ton. Mr. Baron, in answer to Mr. Green, said that the freight from Frankton would be 4s 3d per pig. . Mr. Hayward thought the shipping cost would be about Is 6d dead weight to Auckland. ■ PLAINS VERSUS TE AROHA. Mr. Baron said that if the bacon was sent to Auckland from Ngatea it would be smoked in Auckland. They must also take into consideration the cost of running a small factory. The Wellington factory dealt with 35,000 pigs, and it could considerably increase its output at very little extra cost. In killing the pigs locally they must get rid of the offal. It might be advisable to have a factory tfteti

instead o$ at Te Aroha. He djd not attach a great deal to the ty ° the farmer. Ha had not found the farmer supporting co-operatipp as he thought at first. As a commercial proposition a factory on the Plains instead of at Te Aroha would, he thought, be better. Mr. Green said that the saving of freight would be £1670 On 10,000 pigs if a factory were built on the Plains.

Mr. Baron said a factory here would be more in the centre than one in Te Aroha, but he thought they were a little ahead of the times.

Mr. EgglestOn said about 30 or 40 pigs per week were brought from the immediate vicinity round the Frankton factory.

Mr. Hayward : We can beat Your buyer comes here once a fortnight in the season and gets about 80 or 90. In the other places on the Plains he also got similar numbers. Mr. Green said he had sent a number of pigs to Westfield and paid 6s per head for. freight. Mr. Hayward: Do you consider 400 or 500 pigs a week would be sufficient fpr a factory ? Mr. Baron : That should keep a factory going. Mr. Hayward said they could claim that number last year. Mr. Baron: That would be no guarantee.

Mr. Hayward thought the farmers should guarantee a certain number of pigs for d factory., SHRINKAGE. Mr. Baron said the shrinkage allowed by his company .was a recognised average in other countries. The shrinkage depended on the fill. A good average loss would be 25 per cent, to 30 per cent. Mr. Green said he had tried an experiment, and what he would have received from Mr. Barpn’a company would have been £l6 12s for several pigs. He had, however, killed and cured his own pigs and had realised £32.

Mr. Baron: If you could do that it 5 would pay the company to get rid of 1 me and give you £3OOO a year, salary. 1 He pointed out that Mr. Green ha.l 1 not. allowed for wages and overhead charges and did not have to wait 12 1 months for his money. . \ Mr. Green said that .the Kiwi Company had offered £2 7s for a pig, but ' he had got it cured for £2 and sold it for £ll. SURPLUS SUPPLIES. 5 Mr Hayward asked if. some 7000 ’ pigs sent to the London market had been a payable proposition. ' Mr Baron: They just paid for themselves, but those 7000 were a surplus ' and it paid the company in t|he long j run. It was necessary to clear the country of a surplus. Some frozen pigs sent were described as‘fine pigs as were ever sent. Mr Davidson said the bacon industry whs more important than most ' farmers thought, as it was essential to dairying. COST OF A FACTORY. Mn Baron said it would cost a least. £lO,OOO to erect a decently sized factory. Freezing chambers would be necessary. It would be no use putting up a small place here and having to add to it from .time to time for the growth that is bound to take place in this district. Mr J. W. Burke: Was it the walking o”.t of your opponents which had the. effect of. you reducing your prices to 3%d. Mr Baron answered "hof’ He then detailed the low prices of all produce at that time. Mr Hayward: Will the company be able to pay a bonus this year ? Mr Baron: We won’t have any bonus this year. A voice : What are you doing with the surplus,? Mr Baron: There won't be any surplus* , Mr Davidson maintained that if the company's pigs must be inspected the pigs of private people should be inspected, ' Mr Baron said the Act was about as rotten as it could be, OTHER CONCERNS ALERT. Mr Hayward wished a little more definite information as to the advisability of erecting a factory on the Plains* Mr Davidson said there had been talk of a. proprietary concern putting a factory here. Mr Barop thought a factory on the Plains was a little ahead of the times, and after the next twelve months live committees from each, part should be set up to go into the matter and see what support would be forthcoming, and to discuss the matter of the location. Mr Davidson said a sufficient guarantee of the supply was that most of the farmers had taken up an extra hundred shares with the company. Mr R. Burke said that he knew of a man with, a hundred or so shares, and he was now buying for another company, . Mr Hayward said the time hal come when something definite must be done. At least half a dozen settlers had approached him regarding a proposal to erect a factory of their own. The man who was in first would get the- best hearing. It was fpr this company to investigate whether it was a good proposition to put a factory on the Plains. A RECOMMENDATION. Mr Davidson moved “ That it be a recommendation to the N.Z. Meat Packing and Bacon Company (Co-top.) Ltd. that it should consider the advisability of erecting a bacon factory on some central position on the Hauraki Plains.” Mr. Green seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Baron said that he would take that recommendation back, and the fullest consideration would be given, so that some information would be given at an early date. FURTHER DISCUSSION. Mr Hayward said the fattening of pigs had not really commenced on the Plains yet. Pig feed was obtained just by the planting of seed. Mr Davidson: Have you any recommendation of the most useful pig tor the Putins ? Mr Baron said the Berkshire Tamworth. was the best, but the Berkshire was all right. The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation.