PORK AND BACON.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1918, Page 2

PORK AND BACON.

j. . REASONS FOR THE SHORTAGE. STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. The attention of the Prime Minister, Right Hon. Mr. Massey, was drawn on Friday to questions asked by correspondents of the Wellington Post concerning the shortage of bacon and pork, and he made the following statement: "The shortage of bacon and consequent high price has been caused by the fact that during the last two seasons farmers have found it more profitable to rear calves than pigs. ' That is one reason. Another reason for tlio shortage is that an abnormal demand set in from the West Coast of North America, and considerable quantities of pork were exported to the different centres there. "This trade has been stopped for the time being. Instructions ihfrve been given 'by myself that the export of pork was to he prohibited at present. The ~ Board of Trade also recommended, to meet the difficulty, that maximum price should he fixed. To this I have also agreed, and the necessary Order-in-Council is now being prepared. In such matters as this the Government liave two points to keep in view. One! is to encourage production, and the other is, as far as possible, to keep t! price for local consumption down to a reasonable level; and that is what is being done so far as this commodity is concerned. "A few years ago tho rearing of calves was neglected, and what would otherwise be waste products were being used for the feeding of pigit bur, store-stock became so scarce, following the increased export of frozen beef, that prices became abnormally high, fnct naturally the prsducer takes up what pays him best. Personally lam very glad to know that, as a result of what has taken place, the numbers of cattle ; this country have increased during tl last two or three years by some hundred* of thousands. '•So far as the trusts are concerned," continued Mr. Massey, "whilst I am not prepared to say that the trusts have nothing 'to do with the export trade, it is quite incorrect tj say, as one of your correspondents put's it, that 80 per cent, of the bacon factories of the Dominion are in the hands of American meat trusts. ''hat is not the ease. Most of the bacon factories in New Zealand are co-operative institutions, under the control of the producers."