ESTABLISHING N.Z. PORK INDUSTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 156, 22 September 1927, Page 2

ESTABLISHING N.Z. PORK INDUSTRY

THE PATERSON SCHEME APATHY OF FARMERS Press Association. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Recentlv the Dairy Farmers’ Union, which has keenly interested itself in the New Zealand pig industry, wrote to members of the Dairy Control and Meat Board: “Will you do your utmost to support obtaining the introduction of the Paterson stabilisation scheme, relative to the pork and bacon industry or, in the event of the scheme not being introduced, will vou support a Government subsidy? - ’ Replies were received from eight members of the Dairy Control Board, mostly promising support, but in two or three cases stating that they knew nothing about the proposal or that it was not one for the board to deal with. No replies came from the Mez.t Board, and the chairman of the union said that he could not understand their reason for not answering because pork is meat although grown by the dairy fanner. He was also surprised that some of the Dairy Board members knew nothing of the pork business. Mr. Small objected to approaching the Government for a subsidy. In any case, was it worth while bothering with the present apathy of the farmers? he asked. If they did not want pigs, why go to any trouble? A small meeting was held recently in Palmerston Ncrth to help the industry, and beyond the executive only one or two disinterested farmers attended. Mr. Boyce: “We seem to go to the Government for everything.” The Chairman: “But the subsidy is only wanted until the industry is put on its feet.” Mr. Boyce: “There is no body of men in New Zealand who take less interest in their business than the farmer. I get fed up sometimes.” INTERESTING DAIRY COMPANIES The chairman explained what had taken place at the recent conference in Palmerston North, and the endeavour that had been made to get all the dairy companies interested. It v;as doubtful if the Paterson scheme would work after the export trade reached over 50 per cent., but by that time New Zealand pigs would be established on the Home market. The subsidy was wanted to start the movement. Mr. Small thought that the surest way to get the industry going was to punish defaulters. Farmers had strangled all attempts to get things going. Mr. Boyce: “Why have the co-opera-tive bacon factories all gone to the walP It was simply because the farmei-s would not support their own concerns.” Mr. Small then moved, “That the execut»ve us astounded at the action of the Meat Control Board in not doing something to assist and foster the bacon and UJjJjF ♦hL n ? USt P r ’-. and . is also dissatisfied with the inactivity of the Government in not passing legislation which will enable producers to handle their own prodiice, and bring every producer into lire.” M r-. . Richardson seconded the motion which was carried. ■