PORK EXPORT.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 229, 22 March 1928, Page 8

PORK EXPORT.

AND THE SUBSIDY. Lack of Cohesion.

Since the establishment of the Dairy 1 Farmers ’ Union, that body has taken a leading part m an endeavour to improve the conditions of New Zealand ; pig breeders. One of the great draw- j backs, however has been the lack of co-operation amongst the breeders, and j there is a want of cohesion between those who produce porkers and the breeders of baconers. The matter was 1 referred to at the last meceting of the j Wellington .Executive of the Union . held at Palmerston North last week, j when a letter was read from Mr N. ; Campbell, the president, who was un- j able to be present on account of illhealth. He pointed out that if they | ever expected to get tne pork industry | on co-operat.ve lines all producers must j join together, and see that the subsidy ! granted by the Government was for the pork industry’s future, as well as for the present need. He pointed out that the position had now been reached when pig raisers were receiving greater attention than ever before, and during i the past year the possibilities of export had been brought well to the fore. Breeding for market requirements was wisely being advocated, and proprietary concerns were now buying for export and co-operative associations had come into being, and were becoming ; more firmly established. The Govern- ; ment appeared now to be aware of the j value of the trade, and were prepared j to give practical assistance for the j next three seasons. Although the , present subsidy of -£d per lb. applied to both porkers and baconers, it was probable that after the present term the bounty would be confined to porkers, and he thought was only right. He i pointed out that Continental suppliers of pork were shut out of the London market, arid after the home-grown the New Zealand frozen porkers weie the next highest grade on the market, and our object should be to firmly establish that position. Baconers, on the other hand, had to meet strong opposition from Continental cured bacon which dominated the British market today. Pig breeders now were *n a similar position to the dairy farmers at the time of co-operative dairy company movements, with the difference that they had the lessons of the dairying and frozen meat industries to learn from. It was his opinion that the Government should immediately declare whether after the present term the bounty was to apply to prokers only, so that farmers could make whatever changes in their production thought advisable. If matters were allowed to drift the trade would be quickly dominated by proprietary interests. The I majority of pig raisers only put off small numbers and consequently were loth to face the delays involved in an export trade and this more particularly applied to porkers. As, the London demand was seasonable in the early part of the year, it was good policy to store porkers in New Zealand so as to catch the opening of the London season about September. Undoubtedly the best and most economical method was for the dairy companies to handle their supplies’ pigs on the same lines as the dairy supply. However, the attitude of the majority of the dairy company directors was the principal bar to a progressive policy. An alteration in the articles of association might be necessary, but this difficulty could be surmounted. The executive decided to take a strong stand in regard to this matter, and the urgency of the matter was stressed as well as the importance of united action.