THE PROFITABLE PIG.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4804, 30 January 1925, Page 4

THE PROFITABLE PIG.

A NEGLECTED INDUSTRY. AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. Lack of suitable propaganda and an attitude of indifference to the possibilities of the pig as a factor in the export trade of' the Dominion have robbed New Zealand producers of several million pounds every year, according to' Mr P. J. Small, Dominion president of the New Zealand Dairy farmers’ Union. Mr Small, who is one of the big men in the dairying industry in the Manawatu, has long been a champion of the pig as a profit maker, and he never loses an opportunity of advocating the development of the bacon industry for the purpose of building up a big export trade. In the course of an interview with a “Times” reporter Mr Small made some timely remarkis on the subject. NO ARRANGEMENTS FOR EXPORT. “The position to-day is that, with regard to pork and bacon, the country has over-produced for its own consumption, and no arrangements appear to have been made for the export of the surplus,” he remarked. “This will mean a . reduction in the number of pigs; many farmers who are rearing them now will do so no longer, and interest will be lost ’n what can and should be one of the principal primary industries of the country.” Asked whether pork and bacon were being exported at all, Mr Small said: “Yes ; there ijs a little going to England, where a demand undoubtedly exists, but we are not in the position to meet that demand simply because dairy farmers have failed to co-oper-ate in the matter, with the result that this branch of our export trade has never been grappled with seriously.” THE REMEDY. Asked what steps he thought should be taken to remedy the position, Mr Small replied: “1 advocate co-opera-tive factories, and some system of control. Through our neglect to interest ourselves in co-operative effort in regard to the bacon industry the farmers have been losing about £6.000.000 every year. We have in New Zealand equipment capable of handling ovei' a million pounds worth of pigs every year. Unfortunately, dairy farmers up to the present time have not taken the pig question seriously' in spite of the fact that money is to be made out of it.” STATE PROPAGANDA URGED. "In order to bring home to farmers just what they &re missing I should like to see the State undertake an active propaganda campaign, and lecturers in the service of the Government phould go through the country impressing the farmers with the possibilities of the bacon industry. Under existing conditions I do not thini< there will be much chance of the industry developing to any extent; in fact, I am inclined to think it will go back unless something is’ done to rouse the farmers to take an active interest in the subject.”