PIG MARKETING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5345, 31 October 1928, Page 3

PIG MARKETING.

THE PAEROA BRANCH.

ORGANISER ATTENDS MEETING.

•A meeting of those interested in the N.Z. Farmers’ Pig Marketing Association was held in the Oqunty Chambers, Paeroa, on Friday night,

about thirty farmers attending.

The chair was taken by Mr W. F. Johnstone, who, in introducing Mr N. W. Hastings, the association’s organiser for this, district, said, that although the notice givien of the meeting was short, he was pleased to see so many present. Last year they had had a fairly good seasqn and had sent F'557 pigs away. Although all the pools ' had hot been filled, the prices paid were right. However, the association, he contended, had proved its wqrth, and it was not altogether the price they received that was the ques- . tion, but what they would have received had the association not been in existence. Mr Hastings spoke on the history of thq .association, and the cause that led to, its coming into being. Last year they exported 37,000 pigs, he said. Their chief aim was to keep the expenses as low as poss<bld. The association had paid nrore in every case, except one, than the pig-buying companies. The point was, what wcjuld have been the price had the association not been operating. He claimed that the association h;a,d warranted its existence. It was, however, ? a much bigger concern than thqy had thought, and in order to put it qn a soundex* footing organisers had been appointed, with the object bf getting all the farmers to sta,nd solidly behind the association and stop the scale buying. They were not going, to interfere with the bacon companies. They would supply the companies. He considered that fanners could not produce pigs profitably under 6d per lb. Some time ago all papers, especially Government papers, advocated the raising of’more plg,s, and as a result there were some 50,000 pigs in excess of the previous year. This 5 surplus would have killed the indusif the association had not been f operating last year. As it was, the price paid by one big buyer who waited until the various companies were, were full was a ridiculous one. 'They were determined to find a market that would absorb all the association’s output. In ccimpaiing the pay-out they should consider that the companies took the head off .before weighing, but the association did not. The association’s weights were 10 per cent, better. The actual saving to the farmers last year was SaOA- For pigs exported! there was a Government subsidy of %d per lb, so that when the bacon companies paid 5d they were really paying the farmer Another great pqint was that ■ the. association would take porkers of \ a much lighter weight than bacoji companies. The speaker contended that it would pay farmers to get rid of pigs 1 at the fall qf the year, and only to

hold the breeding sows. It was better tc ; buy young pigjs than to hold pigs over the winter. In the :a'uc,tion sales the prices were, sometimes fixed 1 by the buyers, so that it was necessary for farmers to have some other market, and that was through the associati'on. It was to the advantage of all for the farmers tq stand solidly behind the association. The association had had a very unfortunate time last year/ but things were, better organised to-day and he predicted better prices all round. The Nekau Bacon Co. wa.s drawing its supplies from V the association, and was booking hams ft for delivery at Christmas at Is 2d per ’ lb. He had the pleasure of telling the meeting that the association was getting better support now than ever befqre. The payment was based on per pig or per lb. Arrangements had been made with Mr Miller to do the trucking. In asking the farmers to stand loyally behind the company this son Mr Hastings said he was sure that t'he association, would haye its business qn a sound footing andl farmers would reap the whole benefit of the industry. The association had dei cided dn the issue o.f £1 debentures in order to’give it working capital. This Would enable settlements to be made earlier. The matter was favoured in Othpr/ districts,and already quite a number had been taken up. They r Would not be interest bearing, but would be a first charge o-n the association’s assets. Asked .what he received from the association, Mr Hastings said that last season he not only gave his ti.me free, but did hot receive a penny-piece for benzine or telephones. His 4 whole heart was in it just fqr the benefit, of the industry. This year he was being allowed his bare travelling expenses only. In order to give his whole time to the work of organising he had to put sharemilkers o>n his farm. In answering a. question; about grading, Mr Hastings said that all pigs were graded by Government graders, so that the man sending in first-class pigs was paid for. first-class. Pigs fed on grain proved to be better than fthose fed wholly op milk. It was not generally known .that once a sow. had farrowed tihq belly part would: not cure. At the end of the meeting a number qf those present signified their intention of putting the whole" of their supply this season through the association. Vqtes of thanks to Mr Hastings and the chairman terminated the meeting.