SUBSIDY FOR PORK EXPORT

Shannon News, 15 November 1927, Page 2

SUBSIDY FOR PORK EXPORT

Government to be

Approached

OPPOSITION TO PATERSON PLAN

At a conference of pig-growers held in the Dominion Farmers'

Institute, Wellington, on Friday

it was decided that the Government be approached and asked to offer a bonus sufficient tto ensure to all exporters of pork a minimum return of sd. per lb. The opinion was expressed that there was no hope of the Government, passing legislation enabling the Paterson Plan to be brdught in(|o operation.

Mr. W. J. Poison, chairman of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, who presided, referred- to the recent impetus given to the pig industry, ■ and said that the Farmers' Union, which, he represented, was anxious about the question, but had not taken s very strong stand because it felt that the matter was in the hands of men who were experts. When he wa s in Parliament the other day he met Mr. Eliotti. and while talking, with him, the. Prime Minister came along, and Mr. Coates informed him that it those engaged in'the industry could submit a joint scheme, instead of half a cPozen, different schemes, it would have more than his sympathy. He would help. Mr. Poison said that his own impression was that as a result of the impetus which had been given to the industry, by the action of the Meat Board particularly, there would be a great increase in the. number of pigs turned out after , Christmas and there would be a tremendous number of pigs offering. Unless adequate export facilities were available there would be a serious reduction in' price in consequence. •He felt satisfied that if they could g-Q to the Government and present a reasonable scheme, a scheme that could be accepted by the Government without any undue dislocation of political methods, pig growers would be given a considerable amount of assistance. With that end in view the conference had x been convened. He was aware that there were many difficulties: He, had seen some account sales of pigs that had been exported through one or two firms. The account sales presented a picture which in his opinion was not a reasonable one. They would have to show the Government that if they were going to ask for tyelp„ particularly by'way of bonus, a proper methtod of export was adopted, and that the charges tha't were going to be made on the export were reasonabl charges. And they would have to show that the pigs at the other end of the world would not be thrown on the London market under "rafferty" rules. There were tremendous difficulties which would have to be overcome. His own idea was that the services of the officers of the Meat Board might be secured, but that was only his personal Idea. Somebody responsible could be obtained to supervise the handling ot pigs by the firms which dealt with them*' so that they would have con 1 fiidence that when their product was handled in London it was handled by men who were doiug the best for the growers. His other suggestion was to ask for something in the nature of a bronus. Mr. Poison referred to the wonderful success that had been made of the pig ' industry in Denmark, and said he was satisfied that our pig industry could be as large as our dairy industry if properly handled.

Subsidy Warranted

Mr. J. G. Cobbe, chairman of the Pig Export, Federation, referred to account sales of 1171 b and 1221 b pigs, the net return of which was 2 2d. per lb, when sold in London after all charges had been taken off. That was, a distinct loss. The growers had to decide on what scheme they were all in agreement, and then plstce it before the Government. If it was at all reasonable*, the Government would help. But if they failed to agree, they may as well disband. Mr. H. H. Stirling, representing the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Ofompany in the Waikato. referred to the questions of a bounty, or the Paterson scheme. He expressed the opinion that in general the principle of a subsidy was »ot sound, and could only be justified by some extraordinary circumstances, which called for a subsidy to lift the industry over a stile. Such circumstances were applicable to the 'industry at the present juncture." "Fed Up, And Full Up." Mr. G. Eliott, M.P., pointed out that the Paterson scheme in Australia was a voluntary effort, and the point arose as to whether they could, get ( the dairy farmer sin New Zealand to launch such a scheme. Personally, he did ntot think so, and to launch the Paterson scheme legislation would be necessary. He was quite satisfied that as far as the pte-

sent Parliament was concerned, there was no possible chance whatever of getting legislation through. Even though the Government were prepared to legislate, they would never get the Bill through. 'The temper ->f the House had been, and was such, - f

that they were fed up, and full up of any question of control. They had had that experience. Mr. S. A. Broadbelt, Levin Dairy Company, said there were about 500,000 in New Zealand, and 100,000 pigs would keep New Zealand in bacon quite comfortably. He thought the position shuld be placed before the Prime Minister, and see if they could get a subsidy to bring the price up to something like a reasonable one. There was a big opening in New Zealand to-day *or pig production.

After ! further discussion, Mr. Polson said the Paterson scheme was undoubtedly out of the question. They could not get it, and they should, concentrate on something they, could get.

Possibilities of Export. Mr. J. S. ~ Jessep, vice-chairman of the Meat Board, said previously he had stressed the importance of the pig industry, and with the other members of the board' had got pork placed on a more favourable basis than any other meat from New Zealand. They all knew that the possibilities of export from New Zealand were simply enormous. He declared we were fighting the Danes in our dairy business with one hand tied behind our back, and were not making use of the pig industry. Only by getting the exports of New Zealand up,"''"could we hope to get taxation down."and he knew no Industry that could be so readily expanded .than the pig industry. The industry was beginning to expand, and the psgs to increase. Production costs had to be kept down by careful breeding and feeding. Previously, a pig was simply a pig. and he tpok his chance about the farm, but that 1 wa s beginning to die away. There was not a member on the Meat Board,, who was not in smypathy with some sound scheme that could be proposed with some degree of unj animity. They may as well drop the Paterson scheme, because it was not / I workable. Such a siheme required a very much larger local consumption. » We were going to depend on exports. The moment the exports went beyond local consumption, the Paterson scheme broke down. He ', thought the market would sort itself but lie believed the demand was there. Mr. Cobbe said that Mr. Eliott said that they would not get the Paterson scheme through/ Parliament. Mr. Eliott: "No hope." Mr. dobb|e: "I thought it was a farmers' Parliament." (Laughter). Mr. Jessep: "If you get the Paterson scheme, you Will find that it can't work." After further discussion, on the motion of Mr., Cobbe, seconded by Mr. Neal Campbell, it~was resolved: "That in order to save the pig in* dustryy the Government be asked to offer a bonus sufficient to ensure to all exporters of pork a minimum net return of sd. per lb; that a commit- ; tee consisting of Messrs. Broadbelt, Sterling, and Poison place the matter , before the Government; that the committee be instructed to co-operate with the Meat and Dairy Boards in providing a system of export and sales,which will ensure the proper application of the bonus." . (