GREATER PRODUCTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 126, 27 April 1940, Page 7

GREATER PRODUCTION

PIG COUNCIL DISSATISFIED. CELTICISM OF GOVERNMENT. Strong criticism of the policy of the Government in dealing with pig producers was expressed at the annual meeting of the Wellington District Pig Council in Palmerston North, this week. Speakers said that, the Government was not working in the best interest of the industry and that its policy was tending to' offset the efforts pig producers were making to increase production. The council carried a resolution affirming the intention- of members to assist in increasing production and aiming at a conference of all pig councils to assist this end.

Tlie chairman (Air B. E. Keillor) said the keynote of the situation at the present time, which must bo kept in front of members, was increased production. All could not go to fight, but could help by increasing production. This could l>e done with the help of the Government, but this had to be real help.

“We cannot do it on our own,” said Air Keillor. “Government departments ask us to increase production on the one hand and slap us on the other. The Government does noL have the conlidence of the farming community. Without that confidence we cannot get ahead.”

Air Keillor added that the Government had asked the country to produce more bacon, and producers had been told that England wanted only bacon, at the start of the war. This was all right, and later was modified to a certain extent. Recently the producers were told by the Alinister of Marketing, who said he had the interests of the farming community at heart, that they could now send porkers.

“Aly own opinion is that that change is a tragedy,” said Mr Kciller. “We had a chance with a.n open market to build up a wonderful trade. The Government also injured the grading, just when wo wanted better grading. A small committee was recently set up to assist producers. It was a very representative and strong committee, but its recommendations were not followed in any way. Hon. AY. Nash, Alinister for Marketing, took recommendations only from the trade, and that is the position as it stands to-day. Apparently the recommendations of the committee were thought worthless and were not followed for this reason, and Air Nash cannot say : other wise. _ SETBACKS RECEIVED. “As producers we have to sec that we have some representation instead of always being shelved. The council is doing its best, but has received numerous setbacks. AA'e have to get all the pig chibs and producers in the country behind us as that is the only way in which we can got what we want. AA'e have a glorious opportunity at present to build up a baconer trade from this country, and if we show people in the Old Country that we are standing by them they will not forget us.” Air AY. J. Crouchor supported these remarks. “AA’e are not at all happy about the condition of the pig iuiiustrv to-day,” he said. If anyone had the hardihood to criticise what the Government was doing he was branded as a fault-finder, and, at present, as being disloyal. He, however, took the view that good healthy criticism was needed, and he had no politics. “AA'e 'write to Government departments and get jio satisfaction. I do not think I am exaggerating by saying that in the last year not one helpful reply was extended, to us by a department, and we have asked some sensible questions.” Air Crouchor added that one complaint from the council had been treated by the' department as invalid because a quorum was not present at the meeting. The facts, were there, however. The Government pleaded for more production, but all the time was cutting away the ground by which, any practical producer knew, more pigs could be produced. The producers had been let down badly. The Government might have wanted to be helpful, but did not know how to go about it. It was time the council asserted itself and put fonvaid, as fanners, the policy which pig producers must follow. One effect of ISOlb pigs being slaughtered without limit of numbers was that these were the carcases,. together with the very light ones, that were being exported, said Mr Crouchor, while all the good weight pigs were being retained lor local trade requirements. The result of this ill-considered method of marketing would most certainly seriously damage the reputation for quality pigs that had previously been established in England. APPEAL TO FAItAIERS. An appeal for farmers to assist in increasing proauction Ivy all the means m tlieir power was made bv Prolessor AY. Jtiddet, whose remarks were greeted with applause. The invasion of Norway and .Denmark, he said, had iiad a very far-reaching effect on the pig industry. Perhaps there was not a sufficiently strong feeling in the co'untry that New Zealand was at war. In helping themselves now producers were helping the country, and unless we put our energy into it now we might be sorry for it later. A definite contribution could be made to winning the war by increasing production, and pig products were very badly needed. Through' the outbreak of war Britain had lost a largo amount of imports from European countries. If this large gap was to lie filled every measure in New Zealand’s power would have to be used to do it. Was there any farm in the Dominion which had not some corner extra feed could be grown, and was there any farmer who° had not sufficient spare time to grow it? Denmark’s loss might he New Zealand’s gain, but we must not look on it in such a selfish manner. In the meantime, however, we should do our best fo supply the deficiency. Members of pig clubs could very materially help the Dominion by going m for such a movement.

•'.‘One tiling about which all are agreedHs that New Zealand is at war, and all are determined that New Zealand, Britain and her Allies will win. Towards that end we are all prepared to make sacrifices and in so doing it is essential that we got together and a"Toe upon a common democratic- basis by which we will immediately achieve oiir national objective,” Professor Eiddet concluded. The following motion was, carried on the motion of Mr Croucher, seconded bv AH Keillor: “That this council affirms its previous pledge .to do all in its power to increase production during the currency of the war and afterwards, and with that end in view decides to take steps to have a conference called of all councils so that steps can be taken at once to stem, the present decline in the number of pigs slaughtered.”

The chairman said that members could he assured that the council would! not rest until something was done in I this matter. j