PIG PRODUCERS’ VIEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20259, 30 July 1937, Page 2

PIG PRODUCERS’ VIEWS.

DECISIONS OF CONFERENOE. QUALITY PREMIUM WANTED. PROBLEMS OF INDUSTRY. Important decisions affecting the /future welfare of the pig industry were reached at the fifth annual conference of the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Pig Marketing Association, held in Hamilton yesterday. Delegates representative of every dairying district in the Dominion were present, the chairman of directors, Mr W. A. Phillips, presiding over a large attendance. The urgent need of an improved grading system to bring about a greater uniformity of export carcases, so as to enable New Zealand to compete on more favourable terms with rival producing countries, was stressed by conference, which resolved to bring to the attention of the Minister of Agriculture the necessity for paying a premium for top-grade baconers. It was pointed out that the future of the Industry was bound up with bacon production, to which greater attention would have to be given if any real progress were to be made. That the control of dairy-farm meat products should be the prerogative of the New Zealand Dairy Board, rather than of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, was another decision reached by conference. Prevention of Disease. “It is a very desirable thing that all 'pedigree stock should be free of disease and that testing for tuberculosis should be introduced,” stated a delegate, who moved a remit to the effect that breeders should have all stock tested for disease before they were sold. At the moment there was nothing being done In regard to the testing of pedigree stock for disease, but it was hoped that with the introduction of the national instructional scheme testing of pedigree pigs for disease would be brought into operation, commented Mr H. M. Peirson. “If it, is practicable to afford proteetino to the buyer of pedigree pigs as far as disease is concerned, then we should be prepared to make that, protection available,” said Mr Phillips in speaking in support of the question. Penalties arising from disease were costing pig producers some £200,000 per year, and therefore it was a vital matter for producers lo take action The remit was carried. In lieu of a romlt urging that the Government be asked to remove or considerably reduce the duty orj pig and poultry foods, conference decided that the association should continue to urge upon the Government the desirability of a full Inquiry into Ihe factors producing the present disparity between the prices paid by farmers in the South Island for such foods and the prices paid by North Island farmers for these foods. Dairy Board Representation. In connection with the control of dairy-farm meat products, it was decided, on the motion of Mr Sorensen, “That In the opinion of this meeting the Dairy Board is a more desirable body than the Meat Board to control directly dairy-farm meat producls, and the association strongly advocates this course to put matters on a sounder national footing.” Mr Sorensen’s proposal was made in the form of an amendment to a remit suggesting that the pig industry should have direct representation on the Meat Board. For the purpose of -saving time at the annual conferences a delegate suggested that committees be circularised to send in remits two months before the conference and that the agenda ne then circulated to allow the committees to discuss it prior to the conference. On the suggestion of Mr Phillips, conference decided that committees should be circularised a month previous to the annual meeting, and that committees be afforded the opportunity of discussing the remits before the meeting.