SCOPE IN BACON TRADE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21464, 4 May 1935, Page 14

SCOPE IN BACON TRADE

I MEAT EXPORTS AND i QUOTAS APPEAL TO FARMERS TO REALISE OPPORTUNITIES Emphasising the possibilities for extending the export, of pig products, especially bacon, from New Zealand Mr J. H. Blackwell, addressing a gathering of farmers at Kaiapoi yesterday, urged the farmers of the South Island to take advantage of those possibilities. He claimed that the secret of success in the industry was the correct breeding of pigs which would satisfy the demand of consumers. If New Zealand studied Home market demands he felt certain that the export of pig products would develop greatly and serve as a great support to the already harassed dairy farmer. Mr Blackwell's remarks were made to a gathering of farmers at the Kaiapoi freezing works of the North Canterbury Sheepfarmers' -operative Freezing Export and Agency Company, Ltd., yesterday afternoon at the close of a general inspection of pig killing and treating for export carried out at this freezing works. There were approximately 300 farmers present. Mr Blackwell is chairman of directors of this company. Referring generally to the export of pig products Mr Blackwell said that as with "the lamb trade the secret of success lay in proper attention to breeding for export requirements. The correct size and type should be studied. It was very important, especially when prices fc dairy products were so low, that dairy farmers should exploit pig raising, a branch of production in which there was scope for development. At the moment the best under any possible system of quotas was undoubtedly in bacon. He hoped that if the New Zealand representatives in England were successful in negotiating an agreement concerning meat exports the reasonable rights of the New Zealand farmer would be safeguarded. Help from Ottawa Agreement The Ottawa agreement had been of distinct advantage to New Zealand, especially concerning pig production, Mr Blackwell claimed. Since the agreement Great Britain had restricted the importation of foreign pig products by 2,000,000 cwt. That was the principal reason for the better prices ruling in the pig export sections to-day. At the moment the porker section seemed t' be over-supplied, but there was great scope still for bacon. Mr Blackwell made a direct appeal to South Island farmers to realise the benefits to be obtained from development of the export of pig products. Last year, "ie said, 95 per cent, of that export was from the North island, while the remaining 5 per cent, was from the South Is'and. If the South Island wanted a share of the expanding market its farmers would have to busy themselves. Mr Blackwell concluded by stating that at present pigs were being well handled in the freezing works and markets were being exploited to the best advantage of the oducer.