PIG-MARKETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 215, 11 September 1929, Page 21

PIG-MARKETING.

CO-OPERATIVE SUCCESS.

COMPANY TO BE FORMED,

Operating without capital, the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association last year had a turnover of £150,000. Now it is to be replaced by a limited liability company, with a capital of £25,000, in 2/ shares. The new company will start business on October 1.

In addressing the second annual meeting of the association, Mr. S. H. _ Judd said gratifying support had been given it during the year. The association had nearly 4000 suppliers and handled 42,943 pigs last year, against 27,000 pigs for the previous year. Of the number dealt with last season 32,216 pigs were exported, 9063 were sold locally, and 1115, or 2.6 per cent, were condemned for various reasons. Three seasons ago the percentage of rejects was 4.5. The quality of the pigs on the whole had shown improvement. Of the 13,400 porkers handled, 89.4 j)er cent were classed prime, and 28,000 baconers, or 96.4 per cent, were classed prime quality. Complaints had been received from the United Kingdom recently about fishy flavour in the meat, Mr. Judd said. He thought this was due to the use of whale oil or fish meal in the fattening pen. He warned farmers that neither of these products should be used to feed pigs within two months of killing. If the practice were persisted in, it would ruin the export trade. Reports from the United Kingdom regarding the quality of the pigs received from the association continued to be satisfactory. Smithfield had reported that if the association's grading and quality remained as at present, the association would soon be in a position to secure a premium over other brands. Mr. Judd said the action of the Government in having a high protection duty on all classes of grain and grain offal suitable

for fattening pigs undoubtedly caused the high prices which ruled for feed. Cheap cereal pig feed -would result in better pork and a higher net profit. Capital for New Company. In explaining the proposal to form a new company, Mr. Judd said all pigs handled would be subject to a deduction of 2/, and this would be made from the final payment. For each deduction so made, a fully paid-up share would be issued to the supplier, so that no further liability would remain in respect of that share on the supplier. This would go on for three years, or ■ until such time as sufficient capital was accumulated, and then a shareholding basis of supply would be struck. The money would not be locked up in land or buildings, but would be kept fluid, and would be utilised in the first instance to bring up the rate of advance payments to a regular stardard, say, 75 per cent of the estimated. value of the meat, and then later to the hastening of the final settlements. Messrs. B. H. Budden and D. S. Ross were re-elected directors, and Mr. C. W. Armstrong was reappointed auditor. The association resolved to go into voluntary liquidation, and Mr. D. N. Chambers was appointed liquidator, and was given authority to form the new company. The following resolution was passed:— "That this association finds it is severely handicapped in the export trade in bacon pigs by the excessive price of grain and grain offal suitable for finishing pigs. This is caused by the heavy import duty and results in failure on the part of farmers to top off their pigs. The association therefore strongly urges the Government to remove the duty on grain and grain offal suitable for pig food."