THE PIG INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 185, 8 August 1927, Page 4

THE PIG INDUSTRY.

MAIZE TOO DEAR. SUGGESTED REMISSION" OF DUTY. WELLINGTON, Friday. A motion by the Hon. Edward Newman advocating remission of Customs duty on maize ami other food products necessary for the economical development of the pig industry, with a view to the establishment of the pig products export industry, was debated in the Legislative Council to-day. Mr. Newman said the time had come when something must be done to enable the dairy farmer to improve his position There was no question that the Old Country was able to take all the pork we could produce. The quality of the New Zealand article up to the present had been quite up to the mark, but bo far the industry had failed. The present price of maize in New Zealand was 7/ per bushel, a price at which it did not pay farmers to go in for pig raising, but if the Customs duty were remitted maize could be made available on the wharves at 4/4 per bushel. It would mean foregoing £10,000 per year, which could be made up in other directions. Properly developed trade in pigs would become more valuable than either the dairy produce or the frozen meat industries. Farmers were perfectly willing to take up the new industry if it were put on a proper economic basis. The motion was seconded pro forma by the Hon. Snodgraes. The debate was adjourned.