PIG INDUSTRY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 127, 21 January 1932, Page 2

PIG INDUSTRY

BRITISH MARKET HUGE YEAXTJLT" IMPORTATIONS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES, NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITY. The London Daily Express commends the question of Britain's pig population to Mr. Runciman. There dre fewer than two and a half miL lions in these islands. "Yet," says the express, "we import the equivalent of twelve million pigs every year from foreign countries." "Mr. Runciman's able lieutenant, Mr. Hore-Belisha, declared in Parliament that the purpose of the 100 per dent. Forestalling B'ill was not to increase revenue but to increase employment. You cannot have abnormal imports," he declared, and normal employment. Splendid words! But.what about British farmers and British pigs? What better medium can there he for increasing employment and cutting down imports? "The importation of foreign bacon has reached fantastic proportions. Denmark alone sent us in Odtoher no less than 635,301' dwt., an increase of 33 1-3 per centi over last year. We are eating more bacon all the time — bnt it is the foxeigner who is reaping the gain, not the British farmer. Each year Britain pays approximately £50,000,000 for.'imported pig products. Yet experts have shown that cvith the assistance of a protected market Great Britain could provide direct employment for 68,000 workers in the pig industry alone, and an increase in the rural population of more than 200,000. "What is the reason for excluding pigs from the list of abnormal imports ? British agriculture deserves and demands an answer?" Britain Has Good Pigs. In a late issue, the N.P.B.A. Gazette mentions that a recent yisitor to the Association's headquarters was Mr. Eliot R. Davis (Auckland), a member of the Association and an enthusiast on the development of trade within the Empire. Mr. Davis (says the writer) had made himself especially weleome. He has many business interests in New Zealandj but his "Waione" herd of pedigree Large White pigs (originally a hobby) has developed into an important undertaking under the efficient management of Mr. Wendel Phillips, who is also a member of the N.P.B.A. Mr. Davis is after the full ultilisation of the vast quantities of skini-milk which seem to be wasted in New Zealand. He is determined to establish New Zealand pig production on a basis resembling that of Denmark. As the result of a tour with Mr. Swain, to see the Large Whites and Tamworth herds, Mr. Davis spoke with appreciation of the merits of the stock which he saw. In a letter to the Association he wrote: "The trip has heen one of the greatest interest and education. I would like to say at the outset that I was amazed at the all-round excellence of what I saw. The quality of the pigs in England far and away exceeds anything that we have in New Zealand. "I fcel that one of my outstanding duties is to do all I can to remove the embargo now existing in New Zealand which prevents the importation of such blood from England as would improve our pigs to such an extent as to enable us to compete with foreign countries." Tho concluding comment reads: "Mr. Da;/is now knows that we have good pigs in England. We are sure he will not forget it if and when the export of stock to New Zealand is pcrmissible."