LEVY ON PIGS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 181, 2 July 1937, Page 5

LEVY ON PIGS

ADMINISTRATION OF FUND. ORGANISATION PROGRESSES. Good progress has been made under the guidance of the Department of Agriculture in the establishment of national and district organisations to administer the fund derived from the levy of 2d which is being imposed on all pigs slaughtered for the purpose of providing an instructional and advisory service for the pig industry, says a statement issued by the Director-Gen-eral of Agriculture. At a meeting of representatives of different phases of the pig industry, under the chairmanship of Mr A. H. Cockayne, Director-General of Agriculture, it was decided to set up a National Pig Industry Council, representative of the following bodies: Stock and station agents, Grain Merchants’ Association, meat export companies, freezing works, bacon curcrs, Internal Marketing Department, Dairy Board, Meat Board, Pig Breeders’ Association, Farmers’ Union, representatives from the district pig councils, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Department of Agriculture. Massey Agricultural College, Lincoln College, and the Pig Marketing Association. Mr Cockayne pointed out that it would be necessary to appoint an executive committee to carry out the policy of the council, which, it was suggested, would meet only once or twice a year to review the work which had been done, and plan a programme for the future. The suggestion was adopted, and the following were elected members of tlie executive: Messrs. A. H. Cockayne (chairman), W. A. Philips (Pig Marketing Association), C. Hausmann (bacon curers), J. A. Russell (Pig Breeders’ Association) and provisional representatives from Taranaki, Manawatu and Waikato District Councils. As directed by the council, the executive appointed the following district supervisors for the first year: Taranaki, Mr O. H. Sorrenson; Waikato, Mr C Harringtoon; Manawatu, Mr E. P. Nielsen. After the first year the district councils will make these appointments. DISTRICT COUNCILS.

The executive then proceeded to draft a constitution, and it lias suggested that the district pig councils be set up in the following centres: Whangarei, serving the counties ot Mangonui, Whangaroa, Hokianga, Bay of Islands, Whangarei, Hobson, Otamatea, Rodney, Waitemata and Eden. Pig population, 100,000. Pukekohe, serving the counties _ ot Manukau, Franklin, Hauraki Plains, Thames, Coromandel and Ohinemun, and part of the counties of Raglan and Waikato. Pig population, 100,000. , , Hamilton, serving the counties ot Piako, Matamata, Waipa, Kawhia, Otorohanga and Waitonio, and part of the counties of Raglan and W aikato. Pig population, 100,000. _ Whakatane, serving the counties of Tauranga, Rotorua, "Whakatane, Taupo, Opotiki, Matakoa, 4V<uapu, Uawa, "Waikohu, Cook and Wairoa. Pig population, 90,000. New Plymouth, serving the counties of Taranaki, Inglewood, Clitton, Ohura, Whangamomona, Stratford, Eltham, Egmont, Waunate West, Hawera, Patea, Kaitieke W aimarino, Waitotara, "Wanganui and Rangitikei. Pig population, 110,000. . Palmerston North, serving the counties of Iviwitea, Oroua. lohangina, Kairanga, Manawatu, 1 ahiatua, I Eketahuna, Horowhenua, Maunceville, Akitio, Castlepoint, Masterton, Wairarapa South, Hutt, Featherston, Makara, Hawke’s Bay Waipukurau, Patangata virko, Woodville and W ebei. Ilg population, 108,000. „ ~ Christchurch, serving the South Island north of the Waitalu River. 1 ig ~0K “?n": SSSS; . south isi«i,a south of the Waitaki River. Pig population, 36.000VALUE OF CLUBS. Tt was pointed out by the executive ■ that the areas of the different district councils are purely provisional, and ma y have to be revised Horn time to time. It is recognised that many counties are very remote from the eentie. and pig clubs which are formed some distance from the centre will not be penalised, as they will obtain advice knd instruction from the nearest olhee of the Department of Agriculture. J he ' main idea of the executive is to set up " a national organisation as soon as pos- ’ sihle in order that the fullest benefits mav he obtained from the levy lhe ‘ executive also stresses the importance ’ G f the active interest of the farmers ' the scheme, and urges them to orgnni.se pig clubs, and run them in col- ; laboration with the national move- , ment. The more clubs that are form- , c d, the greater will be the success ol the scheme. ! Up to the present only three chss tricts, Taranaki, Waikato and Mannwatu, are ready to form district coun- . oils but it is understood that other s districts have their organisations uni der wav. These councils will he repre- ; sentative of pig club members, depart- • mental officers, and the Pig Breeders ' Association, and any co-opted member • that the council desires. Every pig club formed will be entitled to a lcpresentative on the district council. ' The executive has decided that the ' activities of the district councils shall include the organising of pig clubs and ; the establishment of an object lesson ‘ on suitable farms. , j Allocations from the levy fund will be made by the executive to the vai ious districts councils, and it will be ’ left to the councils to fix salaries and other expenses. The payments will be made monthly, and for the fiist 12 ' months it is expected that the average \ allocation for the district councils will . be about £BOO.