SALE OF PORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1943, Page 3

SALE OF PORK

PROHIBITION FOR TWO MONTHS ACTION TO SPREAD SHORTAGE HIGHER PRICE OFFERED TO FARMERS. TO ENCOURAGE INCREASED PRODUCTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Prohibition of the sale of fresh, frozen and cooked pork for an initial period of two months beginning on May 20 was announced last night by the Minister of Marketing, Mr Barclay, in giving on behalf of the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, decisions which had been made in order to spread the present shortage of pig meat supplies equally between the civilian market and the armed forces, both of which are to sustain a pro rata reduction in supplies. The Minister said a survey revealed that the quantities of porkers and baconers available were substantially below the figure necessary to meet the present needs of the domestic market and to fulfil completely our armed forces contracts for supply in the Pacific area. An appeal to pig producers to increase their production, particularly of baconer pigs, to the greatest possible extent during the present season was made by Mr Barclay, who referred to factors responsible for instability and uncertainty within the pig industry. These unavoidable factors were to be regretted, but they were caused solely by the war situation. Now, with the spread of the war to the Pacific, a reversal of policy was necessary, and there was again an urgent and very substantial demand for pig meats. So concerned was the Government with the present shortage that it had been decided, with a view to encouraging farmers to carry the maximum number of porkers to the baconer stage during the winter months, to raise the price schedule during these months, and in addition special arrangements had been made to import stock foods at prices substantially lower than those operating last year. Arrangements had been made for the importation of an additional 5000 tons of stock meal spread over the next few months so that there would be ample quantities available to producers throughout the winter period He had also arranged for the Internal Marketing Division to supply as early as possible in June 1500 tons of barley meal which would be available,at North Island ports at £9 15s per ton ex wharf. The Minister of Supply had asked him to announce on his behalf that, because of the supply difficulty, it had become necessary to place a ceiling on civilian consumption of pig meats. This necessitated the registration of all ba-con-curers throughout the Dominion and the establishment of a sales quota on each of the curers. Special arrangements were being made for farmers who had been in the habit of curing, or having cured by recognised curers pigs for their own domestic use, but they would be subject to the same pro rata restrictions that would be applied to the rest of the civilian population. The manufacture and sale of sausage meat would continue to the extent of available supplies of chopper pigs and trimmings. In applying these restrictions, Mr Sullivan had intimated to him that the consumption of bacon and ham had risen so considerably during the past 15 months that it had now reached a point where the foregoing measures had been inescapable as a means of maintaining supplies to the Allied forces dependent on this Dominion for the subsistence requirements. These decisions represented a measure of sacrifice which the civilian population was called upon to bear in order to meet the present shortage of pig meats. LICENSING ORDERS. The Food and Rationing Controller, Mr J. E. Thomas, stated last night that orders had been gazetted covering the licensing of the bacon-curing industry and the restriction of sales by baconcurers to distributors and consumers. Details of the scheme are as follows:— Registration of Curers: Every person who is a cuter of bacon and ham for sale must make application to the Food Controller, P.O. Box 3027, Wellington, before May 22 on a form which will be provided through representatives of the bacon industry as set out in the public notice appearing in this issue. Any cuter desiring to make application and unable to secure an application form from the foregoing sources, may apply direct to the Food Controller. No curer who has not made application and been issued with a licence and permit to sell may continue to trade after June 1, and all those affected are urged to take immediate steps to ensure that their licences are issued before that date. Curing on Behalf of Farmers: Farmers who in the past were in the habit of having pigs cured by recognised curers are permitted under the scheme to have cured and returned for their own consumption on the farm during the ensuing year 75 per cent of the total weight if pig meat cured in this manner during the last 12 months. Distribution to Consumers: Under the new arrangements, all registered curers are required to continue to supply those customers on their distribution lists in March and April, 1943, pro rata to the customers’ purchases during these two months. A national executive of bacon curers and district committees has been set up throughout the Dominion to assist in the administration of the scheme. Sale of Pork: Beginning on May 20 and for an initial period of two months thereafter, a total prohibition on the sale of pork, fresh, pickled or cooked, other than bacon or ham or offals (which includes liver, kidney, tongue, head, trotter or bones) is being instituted. This is the subject of a special order notified in this issue. The prohibition does not, however, apply to pork sausages made from chopper weight pigs or trimmings. In special cases, such as hospitals or other organisations requiring supplies of pork as an essential item of diet, special application for supply should be forwarded to the Food Controller, Wellington.