PIG BREEDERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1939, Page 9

PIG BREEDERS

GATHERING IN MANAWATU. MAURICEVILLE PLACED SECOND IN BACON EXHIBIT. There was an attendance of several hundred at the annual dinner tendered in Palmerston North on Thursdaj evening to members of pig clubs in its wide territory by the Wellington Dis trict Pig Council. Mr E. E. Keiller. chairman of the council, presided anc the more noted guests were the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon Lee Mar tin), Messrs W. J. Scott, Director of the Pig Industry, W. A. Phillips, mana-ging-director of the Pig Marketing Association, Hamilton, H. M. Pearson, extension officer for the industry, L. J. Plimmer, of the Wellington District Council, E. P. Nielsen, supervisor, C. E. Vile, president of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association, FL E. Kissling, secretary, and Dr C. P: McMeekan, lecturer in dairy husbandry, Massey Agricultural College. Mr Keiller welcomed the visitors. He said it was due to the facilities provided by the Manawatu A. and P. Association that such a splendid bacon exhibit had been staged at the Winter Show. Mr Keiller said he was pleased at the co-operation shown by breeders and curers, and congratulated the winning club (Te Arakura), the runnersup (Mauriceville) and the ciub gaining third place (Glen Oroua). The Kiwi Bacon Company had signified a desire to donate to the council a 25 guineas cup for a special class to be provided at the next Winter Show. Mr Lee Martin referred to the development and importance of the pig industry and Mr W. J. Croucher, one of the pioneers of the industry in New Zealand, introduced Dr McMeekan, to whom he paid a warm tribute. Dr McMeekan said he had learned more from the practical farmer of the Manawatu than he had from text books. Dr McMeekan proceeded with a lantern lecture on research work carried out at Cambridge in conjunction with Dr John Hammond. It dealt with carcase weights and rates of growth under different methods of feeding. Mr W. J. Scott moved a vote of thanks to Dr McMeekan. He stated that the district should make sure that it retained Dr McMeekan’s services. Yesterday a large number of farmers' made an extended tour of the Manawatu district, visiting model dairy farms and pig lay-outs in various places. At Ohau the party was entertained at lunch by the Women’s Division and the Ohau Pig Club. The president of the club welcomed the visitors and Mr E. P. Nielsen expressed his pleasure at seeing such a large gathering. Mr Bliss (Carterton) stated that it was very pleasing to be associated with' the tour. On behalf of the Mauriceville Pig Club, Mr W. H. Bird congratulated Mr Nielsen on the wonderful work he was doing in the Wairarapa, where he had established the pig clubs.’Mr Bird said that in his opinion the day of the “scrub pig” was almost a thing of the past.