LEVY ON PIGS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22081, 1 May 1937, Page 14

LEVY ON PIGS

Service For Advice x And Instruction

JDECISION OF GOVERNMENT

(press association telegbam.) WELLINGTON, April 30. "The Cabinet has approved a levy of twopence a pig on all pigs slaughtered, to provide an instructional and advisory service for the pig industry," said the Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. W. LeeMartin) to-night. The industry had developed so rapidly during the last few years that it was fast creating problems of national policy. On that score alone it demanded the attention of the Government. "The producers have been asking for definite action for a number of years, and as the requests become more outspoken so an attempt is made, to meet them," said the Minister. "Toward the end of last year, in response to urgent and repeated requests from the Pig Breeders' Association and others interested, the system of litter testing was inaugurated. For a charge of 5s a litter of any registered purebred sow, by any purebred boar> is weighed at three and at eight weeks,'and recorded, in any part of New Zealand by an officer of the Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture. By this means it should be possible to find thrifty and prolific strains of breeding stock, and by their use establish a solid foundation of pig improvement. Recommending Regulations and Standards "During the month just passed a meeting of those interested in grading has been held, and a committee has been elected that will recommend regulations and standards to enable grading to be carried out. It is hoped that a system will be introduced which will recompense those producers who are trying to improve the standard of our pig meats. It is hoped also that grading, by establishing uniformity in our lines of pigs displayed on the London markets, will gradually attract the man who buys with confidence and not the man who has to inspect every carcase lest he gets a bad one and who makes the New Zealand producer pay for the time spent in such inspections. , "Even when the best pigs are being used and paid for on a quality basis there remain the questions of housing and sanitation and the question of efficient utilisation of feeds. An improvement in both these sections by eliminating wastage "could, it is hoped, make pigs profitable on many farms where they are now no I cause for pride or profit. Action After Requests "Those interested have for a long time insisted that this improvement could best be achieved by an instructional service similar to that in operation in the Waikato and the Manawatu. The Pig Breeders' Association and the recording clubs asked the farmers' unions of the Dominion for their approval of the imposition of a levy for this purpose, and received unanimous assent. "Because of this approval, combined with renewed requests to the Minister, the Cabinet has finally approved of a levy of 2d a pig, which will be collected through the slaughtering organisation as an addition to the inspection.fee. This levy should yield approximately £BOOO a year. The Department of Agriculture will consult all those interested in pig production, and determine policy. "The present inclination of the Department is to establish testing stations, each one based on 20 to 40 pig clubs similar to those in operation in Taranaki. These testing stations' would conduct feeding trials of pedigree pigs from tested litters, to find out the suitability of the carcase and their efficiency of' feed utilisation. Certificates of quality, growth rate and food consumption could then be issued. This service seems to complete the litter weighing already in operation, and to provide the information necessary for the establishment of licensed breeding stations. "It is expected that a central council will be elected by the district organisations, the central council to have an executive which will cooperate with the Department of Agriculture and will be responsible for the allocation of funds to district organisations. It is hoped that this method will encourage the farmers themselves to take a lively interest in the expenditure of the money which they are providing, while the Department will act in a co-ordi-nating and advisory capacity."