PIG MARKETING SCHEME.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 163, 16 December 1926, Page 6

PIG MARKETING SCHEME.

MORE ACTIVITY URGED. Discussion at Morrinsville. Outlining the attempt to inaugurate a pig marketing scheme in the Waikato similar to that in operation in the Manawatu district, Mr. J. E. Leeson, speaking at a meeting of the Morrinsville branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union on Saturday night, urged that more active interest should be shown by the Farmers’ Freezing Company in endeavouring to foster this new export industry, not only for their own particular benefit but for that of the farmers generally. During the course of his remarks Mr. Leeson said that at the present the farmers must utilise every possible channel to augment their incomes. , In the matter of pig marketing they j were trying to cut out the middle- ; man and the Manawatu scheme had j that idea in view. The bulk of the exporting was done through agents who made an advance on delivery at the scales, the balance being paid on realisation. One serious drawback to the scheme was the large amount of unexportable animals. At the Fielding freezing works 40 per cent, of the total pigs sent in was rejected for export, these animals being disposed of to a firm selling in New Zealand, but this firm could deal with only a i limited quantity. At first the N.Z.C.D.C. would not enter into the scheme but had now decided to join it. The Farmers’ Freezing Company last season put 2500 pigs into the | freezer, and of which only 14 per cent, was unexpqrtable. ' Already four dairy companies were exporting through this company. It had been suggested that the farmers cd-operat-ing in the scheme should guarantee to sell all their pigs to the exporting j' committee for a period of two years, j The pig export business, continued I Mr. Leeson, would grow to enormous ; proportions. The shipping ring had made a special concession to pork shipments, and he thought the Freezi ing Company, owned and controlled ' by farmers, should give similar concessions in order to get the industry properly started. At the present time the company was not going out of its way to attract such business. In the United Kingdom at the present time porkers were more payable for export, bacon at present realising 2d to 3d per pound lower. This was in consequence of the embargo put on Continental imports of meat owing to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease ; the Continental countries now ' sent bacon on which there was no embargo. Light porkers of 901 b were the most desired. If they could arrange for the disposal of the unexportable pigs they would be on a good footing. The secretary (Mr. R. Garroway) asked if there was any suggestion of grading and payment on grade similar to the payment for butter and cheese.

Mr. Leeson said all the exportable pigs were in one grade, first grade. All under that grade were unexportable.

Mr. P. S. Philpott, said the unexportable animals might be diseased, and the weak point of Mr. Leeson’s argument was that the unexportables were given for New Zealand con- . sumption, for which “ any old thing ” was apparently good enough. In support of this contention he related how recently he had one of his pigs killed by a butcher for his own private use. When opened up, the animal was found to have tubercular growths, and Mr. Philpott said he would certainly not use the meat for his own table ; whereupon the butcher said he would buy it as' it was “ good enough for the shop.” Mr. Leeson said there was nothing in Mr. Philpott’s contention. Of the pigs classed unexportable, 2 per cent, were condemned as unfit for human consumption at all. The animals Mr. Philpott was referring to would be among those which were condemned and would be covered by the Is insurance. Mr. Philpott said Mr. Leeson had evidently a good grip of the subject. Mr. P. C. Kennedy asked if it was a fact that about 20 per cent, of the unexportable pigs were rejected on account of bruises caused by rough treatment in handling. Mr. Leeson : I’m not informed. Mr. S. A. Ferguson said the bruised portions could be cut out and the remainder used for the local market.

Mr. J. B. Thomas suggested writing to the Freezing Company, asking the company to co-operate with the committee appointed to deal with the scheme.

The president (Mr. John Allen) agreed with the suggestion. Mr. Leeson suggested adding to the proposed letter that the Freezing Company should follow the example of the shipping companies and reduce its charges. He thought the company could do a little more to assist. “ They do not seem to be keen to get business,” he added. “ They’ll take the business if we get it for them.” It was eventually decided to write to the Freezing Company on the lines suggested by Messrs* Thomas and Leeson, and asking the company to formulate some tangible scheme for the marketing of the unexportable pigs.