POTENTIALITIES OF PIGS.

Shannon News, 3 October 1922, Page 3

POTENTIALITIES OF PIGS.

MEETING AT SHANNON. Members of the executive of the Wellington Provincial Branch of the Dairy Farmers’ Union, consisting of Messrs. P. .T. Small (president), J, I. Fox (secretary), W. S. Carter and N. Campbell, visited Shannon on Friday night for the purpose of explaining the objects of the Union, and discussing matters in connection with the bacon industry. There was only a small attendance ol dairymen. Mr W. S. Carter, who occupied the chair, stated that the Dairy Fanners’ Union in its early stages met with opposition from the Farmers’ Union, but once tiie objects of the former were made known the two unions had worked in harmony.

Mr P. .1. Small said it was recognised that the dairy farmer was “up against it’’ at the present, time, and their organisation was out to help remedy the conditions. The speaker pointed out that owing to the high freights charged, the railways were not in the position to compete with motor traffic. These excessive rates were one of the burdens the farmer had to Lear, .and called for a remedy. R was proposed to bold cy Dominion conference in Wellington next year, composed of representatives of every branch of the farming industry. This conference, by reason of its strength, would he able to obtain relief where the individual would fail.

In speaking upon the bacon industry, Mr Small said it was to the diseredit of the farmers of this country that, during the past 25 years, -48 oo operative bacon companies hail become bankrupt, and assuming that each one lost £IOOO, the farmers’ own loss was nearly £200,000. This loss was due to want of support from the farmers, and had allowed the combines to practically control the ipdustrv.

There were 380,000 pigs in New' Zealand this year, an increase of 50,000 over last year, and 120,000 over the previous year. The difficulty lay in the fact that! there was no export market for these, the fanner having to depend upon local consumption. As showing the possibilities of an export, trade, the speaker stated that Denmark exported to England last year sixteen million pounds worth ol bacon, as much as the value of the whole daily produce of this country. The potentialities of the bacon industry had never been properly realised. The New Zealand Packing Company wa,s in a position to- handle all the bacon in the country, but as showing flic support it received, in-1917 the company handled 64,000 pigs, and only 27,000 in 1920. The company J had been advanced money by the Bank- of New Zealand to a large amount, and as a. result of the slump I the works wore now- in the hands of j the receiver. It would be a calamity { if these .works fell into the hands of) i trust. It had been suggested that \ the Government, should give some as- J si stance, to the farmers to acquire the works, but the speaker knew- of no definite action to be taken as yet. If the farmers assisted, it was possible that the works could be re-organ-ised ,and Mr Small concluded by urg- | mg all dairy farmers to become mem- | hers of the Union, and so assist in { placing the bacon industry on a sounder footing. Mr Fox ihen outlined the objects of the Dairy Farmers’ Union, and explained what was accomplished by organisation. During the three month? of the Union’s existence, 28 brandies had been formed, with a total membership of 600 at the present time. Of these 500 were within a radius of '2O miles of Palmerston North.

Mr Campbell also spoke, and after several questions had been satisfactorily answered, the meeting resolved to form a branch of the. Dairy Farmers’ Union and a strong committee was formed, with Mr 0. Upton as secretary, to canvass the district for members.

It is ihe intention of the speakers to pay another visit to Shannon at an early date, when -it is hoped there will be a larger attendance.