Pig Industry

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 25, 30 January 1937, Page 12 (Supplement)

Pig Industry

PRESENT AND FUTURE Interviewed by a representative of the “Times/' Mr W. A. Phillips, chair-: man of directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association, Limited, stated, inter alia, that in hia company's experience the percentage of total pig killings representing condemnations, aa well as that representing pigs classed as unexportable, had shown considerable improvement. Last season, of the total pigs handled in New Zealand up to December 31, nearly 5 per cent, were condemned for human consumption and 20 per cent, were placed in the category of “Unexportable" by the Government meat inspectors. The figures for the corresponding period this season were only 3i per cent, and 11 per cent, respectively. *‘l am glad," said Mr Phillips, “of the opportunity to register some observations on this aspect of the industry, since in the minds of many producers, ns is evident from the methods adopted iu the disposal of their pigs, an exaggerated view is held as to the nsks involved in the use of the orthodox, and only reliable method, viz, hooks' selling. 4 ‘Viewed from a national producer aspect, there can be no doubt as to the wisdom of a compulsory grading system, desigued to bring our standards up to those set by our foreign competitors, since only in this direction lies our opportunity of securing a continued increasing market for our normal expansion of exports. “The British Government has decided upon a levy subsidy scheme in respect of foreign imports of bacon, which is calculated to effect greater expansion in their own production, and by reason of the proposed subsidy to its producers, bring about a more moderate price level for consumers. Under such a scheme the obvious effect upon our frozen exports—the value of which is necessarily governed by the bacon market—would be a tendency to fall. To counteract such a development to the fullest extent possible, it would appear that a more rigid system of grading, with compensating advantages in the form of preferential payments to producers, will be even more vital than it is to-day, since only by this jp-eans is it practical to contemplate a gradual and sufficient improvement in the quality of our bacon pigs to hold our own against the concentrated effort, by similar methods, of our foreign competitors, who are striving for au increasing share of tLe English market. "Continuity of supply and uniform-