PIG BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1920, Page 8

PIG BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

IMPORTANT MEETING AT STRATFORD. An important special meeting of the New Zealand Pig Breeders' Association was held at Stratford yesterday, Mr. N. F. Nielsen, vice-president, presiding over a good attendance of members. This was the first meeting of tte Association to be held in Stratford, the headquarters being in Palmerston Xorth. Mr. J. McFarlanu (Fellding) brought up the. question of the age at which pedigree pigs are required to bo registered. At present, he stated the ago was fixed at under six months, and he would like to see it extended to twelve months. He moved that the age be raised from six months to 12 months. Ttls was seconded bv Mr. J. Pill (Hawera). The chairman pointed out that If a young boar was left until after six months before deciding whether to register him or not It was difficult to make a porker of him. Ho thought twelve months was too long and suggested that the age be fixed at nine months. Mr MeFarland said his resolution would not mean that It was necessary to keep a pig twelve oiontrs before registering It. He had found that it was not always possible to decide whether a p!g was sufficiently good for registration at six months old. Air. Pill said that if the age remained at s.x months it woulc irean that a number of pigs would get into the herd hood which were not good enough to bo registered, and by extending tho age, the Association would get better results. After further discussion tte resolution fixing the age for registration at six months was rescinded, and Mr. McFarland's resolution raising the age to twelve months was carried. A member stated that practically none of tho registered nigs in Taranaki had been Inspected by the Clovernment Inspector. Mr. J. PHI moved that no young pigs shall be registered in the herd book after January 1, 1920, unless the sire and dam were registered. Mr. MeFarland suggested that the time bo further extended by at least anotrer six months. Mr. .T. B. Mabin (Waitara)' pointed out ihat there were many owners of pedigree pigs in Taranaki who had not registered them because they did not realise the value of registration. He thought the time should he exended in order to allow these people to register their pedigree pigs. The secretary suggested that as the herd book would not be printed until next November, the tlmo for registration should be extended to November 1. The motion was amended in this direction and carried. A member asked what was the position when a breeder sold a registered pig whicli had not been inspected by the Government inspector, and which was afterwards thrown out by the Inspector. Several cases of this h»d happened and_ he wished to know who should be tho loser, Ihe breeder or the buyer. The secretary i|Mr. J. Linton) said the buyer took the risk and should bear the loss. This brought up Ite question of inspection of pedigree pigs, and Mr. McNae (Hawera) said that there was a feeling among several South Taranaki breeders that some pigs had been registered which should not be in the herd hook. He did not think a single registered pig had been inspected in Taranaki. The secretary said that the Government inspector tad to work from Auckland to the | Bluff, and was doing his best to ge( round as ; quickly as he could. In all probability he I would visit Taranaki as soon as ho possibly | could. Mr. MeFarland said the Association had I discussed the matter of urging upon the I Government the importation of good specimens of plgjKfrom other countries, to he placed on StatV farms and the progeny made available for sSle to breeders. At present there was a tendency for pedigree pigs to get in-bred. The chairman thought it might be more satisfactory if private breeders Imported pigs on treir own account. He expressed the belief that pigs out of imported stock sold hy the Government would he as expensive as if the pigs were imported privately. .Mr. MeFarland contended (hat the Government could sell cheaper and in any case !t would he a good thing for the Government to take up the breeding of pigs on State farms. It was decided to make representations to the Government In the matter. It was also decided that it be a recommendation to judges at A. and P. Shows to be stricter as regards the age of pigs competing at the Know. Mr. McXae brought up the matter of Ai and P. Association's reserving the righfc to purchase at ruling factory prices hlbited in the porker and bacon classes, and stated that this condition was Imposed by the Stratford A .and .P. Association. HeVx- | pressed the opinion that it was unfair to owners-of pedigree p'gs for the Association to have (the absolute right of purchasing them at what might be much below their real value as pedigree pigs, and contended that the associations were keeping breeders of pedigree pigs from exhibiting owing to these conditions being mposrd. It was unanimously decided to ask the A. and P. Associations to reutovo tie conditions objected to by Mr. McN'ae.