THAT PIG.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1917, Page 2

THAT PIG.

To the Editor. ,: Sir,—ln my last on the relative value to the farmer of pigs and casein the estimate of return from tho latter was based upon a 2Jd rate. Since several factories have announced payment for casein at a rate of 2%d per lb "of butterfat. This would give a season's return per cow of only £1 Is fld. I have now been permitted a glimpse into the books of a bacon factory. Hence it has been borne jn upon me that Taranaki has in its pigs, to quote Dr. Johnson, "a potentiality of wealth beyond the dreams of avarice." Here is one man's actual return. He farms GO acres, on which IS cows are milked. Last season lie supplied tlie factory with pigs to the number of 10 and the value of £45. Also, being a thrifty fellow, lie had four baconers cured for himself, worth, say £lO. Contrast his positions as casein and pig producer respectively:—At 2%d casein would have returned him altogether £ I!) lis fid. or £1 Is !)d per cow, and ]?. d per lb for the season's bultcr-fat. For last season's pigs he has received £.>;"> in all, or £3 Is per cow, and nearlv iy..d per lb butter-fat. This does not include a possible bonus of £3, and pos !;> returns from weaners and baconcrs sold elsewhere, nor a likely increased stock of store pigs. It should be borne- in mind that, when the farmer leaves cream only behind him at a factory, he has not parted with an appreciable quantity of the soil's more valuable constituents, but when, in addition, ho pours into a factory vat his skim milk, he has lost hold altogether and for ever of those nitrates and lime phosphates which go to mako up so much of lus land's fertility. Ho is committed to a system of exhaustive farming, ever tho last and worst case of the thriftless and shiftless. Those who know of the "brambly wilderness" where half a century ago were the dairy lands whence New" York City drew its milk supply, will appreciate the condition to which casein production will tend to reduce Taranaki's fat lands. By the way, I must not fofget that exhibition in Tuesday's issue by the fugleman extraordinary of our directorate, Mr. J. 0. Taylor. After it, the intelligent reader will hold the epithet "unspeakable" as applied by me is fully justified. It u amazing that-one such should find asylum in a directorate; more amazing still that,to such in part should be committed the care bf some £70,000 ot- our hard-won yearly earnings, and, most amazing of all tliat during <four years—wo have Mr. T.'s warrant for the time—tlie Moa district has endured his intellectual, literary, and directorial activities that can only be characterised as "neurotic, and Ton'vmy'rotic." I suppose a man should be fhary of exposing himself to the outrages of blatant ignorance and egotism, yet there is peril in over, caution. At •Moa meetings one gets accustomed to bard (knocks, usually fairly and not indecently given, otherwise tlie gods summarily howl an offender down. Twice, if my memory serves me, this last case ha? been Mr. Taylor's experience, yet .lie seems incorrigible. At a recent Ing'.ewood meeting his egotism and ignorant of tlie decencies of debate hung up business for an hour, much to tlie scandal of self-respecting citizens on serious purpose bent. When a slinging switch fails to keep a pachyderm in order at the trough, the use of a bludgeon is excusable. In my letter I did not use the •words "self elected," though Mr. T. imputes them to me. Nevertheless they are not amiss. Rule 81 of our Articles states: "Retiring directors shall, if willing, continue in oflice." The virtue in 'the phrase "if willing'' was not exhibited 'by our retiring directors; on the contrary, they showed woeful lack of consideration for fellow and unsuspecting .shareholders placed in unexpected circumstances. But enough of our meetiug ond its casein cabal. Mr. T. also infers that I am childlike in understanding. /To bo so is sometimes naive, often interesting, and always hopeful, for there is a prospect of development. But for the senile folly and drivel of second childhood —would he might understand—hope is none. The only remedy is silence—long silence, sooner or later, and the sooner the better. You will pardon me for deviating apparently from the subject of the theme 1 set myself, but very courtesy called for » little attention to Mr. T. The caso wae urgent. He had said so much about mo, ami nothing at all about casein. Now nvhatever I am, let him rest assured. Certainly he is not. There's a difference, perhaps too subtle for his perception. Obviously, for instance, I could not make him reply in a strain similar to his own. Tastes differ, as, if he is a little reminiscent, his own has sometimes differed from that of the plain man in Inglewood streets. I am, Sir, still profiteering with : . ; '' R. J. BAKEWELL.