PIG PRODUCTS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23972, 12 June 1943, Page 3

PIG PRODUCTS

PRICE FIXATION FOR PORK EFFECT ON BREEDING The Government would be well advised to pay some heed to the widespread discontent caused by the price fixation of pig products. Pig producers are a small body. In most cases they are men of limited capital who have invested their all in the industry, and they fear that the present fixation and its effects will seriously jeopardise the industry’s future. Leaders in the farming community who are not pig farmers have stressed from many different platforms the danger of the possibilities of the present standard of prices. One ominous repercussion was indicated at the Addington market this week, when the biggest entry of choppers for a very long time was forward. The number has been increasing since the beginning of the price fixation, but on Wednesday the pens contained many young sows of breeding quality, which in the ordinary way would be held for breeding. Now they are going to the block. It is useful to recall that in July of last year porkers at the Addington sale were selling at lOd to lid per lb, and even at this price the pennings were not enough to encourage sufficient production. In the forthcoming July the price will be 8d per lb. It is difficult to see how 8d per lb is going to secure what lid per lb failed to do, with a little bit of extra cost to increase the margin further. The disposal of young sows at the markets and the natural results of a depression in price of 2d to 3d per lb may be regarded in some quarters as just passing incidents. Unfortunately they are not, and it is the cumulative effect that the Government would be wise to consider, without delay, as recovery will be slow with the breeding pigs gone, A correspondent, whose experience entitles him to speak with authority on most sections of production, stated in a letter received last week that he was afraid that production would be very seriously reduced, mentioning as an instance in his own district a neighbour, who annually breed about 1200 pigs —probably the biggest individual breeder in the South Island —who is arranging to reduce his number by half, and other breeders in the district “are doing the same or more.” Such an indication cannot be pushed lightly aside. The position may not be developing so seriously in the North Island, where there is an abundance of skim milk available, and where Australian fattening feed has been arranged for, but the latest export ngures, which practically exclusively concern the North Island, show that there is a 50 to 60 per cent, decline in the last year in the export of pig products. For the first three months of 1943 the value of pork exported was £13.700. as against £617,467 in the corresponding

period last year. Nobody is opposed to the desire of the Government to devote the maximum supply of pig products to the overseas forces.- It is as little as the country can do, but it is the method of doing it that raises misgiving. The present position with the pig industry appears to be that the price per lb will have to be increased to stimulate production or a subsidy paid to keep the prices within the stabilisation limit. In the latter solution, respecting pprk, the matter appears to be plain sailing, for the reason that the civilian population is excluded from its use. The pork is for the armed forces, and is entitled to be a charge on the war expenses account, the same as any other subsidised war commodity.-Judging by the special appeal to carry porkers on to baconer weights a shortage of bacon is expected later on. It is reasonable to suppose, if this method is insufficient to provide bacon needs, that that product will also be brought under the civilian ban. In such case both pork and bacon would be placed entirely outside civilian use. The fact that the pork embargo is to have a trial period of two months in the meantime suggests that the department is awaiting further and more definite information on which to base a more, permanent policy.. But in. the meantime the breeding sows are being slaughtered and herds ‘sold off. The industry is one capable of treble the production that it reached even at its peak. It Wohld be a great set-back to it and little credit to the country if its future were threatened by failure to realise the issues involved.

PROGRESS THRESHINGS

WHEAT YIELD, 33.43 BUSHELS HEAVY OATS YIELD The table appearing below gives the results of threshing operations carried out during the months of January-March, 1943, according to returns received by the Government Statistician from thresh-ing-mill operators up to April 30. The figures show that 169,013. acres of wheat threshed returned a total yield of 5,649,325 bushels, the average yield an acre being 33.43 bushels: 17,898 acres of oats threshed produced 827,286 bushels, the average yield an acre being 46.22 bushels. Wheat Average Total Area yield threshed threshed an acre Bushels Acres. Bushels. Gisborne .. 3,368 106 31.77 Hawke’s Bay 37,108 1.485 24.99 Wellington ■ 241,302 7,114 33.92 Marlborough 322,591 10,541 30.60 Nelson 25,001 877 28.51 Canterbury 4,477,922 135,687 33.00 Otago .. 511,224 12,507 40.88 Southland 30,809 696 44.27 Totals .. 5,649,325 169,013 33.43 Oats Average Total Area yield threshed threshed an acre Bushels Acres. Bushels. Hawke’s Bay 408 19 21.47 Wellington 8,995 199 45.20 Marlborough 10,503 280 37,51 Nelson . • 3,585 103 34.81 Canterbury 635,540 14,417 44.08 Otago 114,313 2,137 53.49 Southland 53,942 743 72.60 Totals .. 827,286 17,898 46.22

CANTERBURY PIG COUNCIL

BRAN AND POLLARD SUPPLIES “It’s the biggest racket out,” said Mr W. C. Miller, a member of the management committee of the Canterbury District Pig Council, when referring at a meeting of the committee held this week to the sale of bran and pollard in the South Island. The question was raised by the secretary, Mr A. E. G. Lyttle, when, he read a letter from a pig producer who complained that he was unable to get bran and pollard locally. “I am asked if it is for poultry,” said the writer, “and there the matter ends.” Supplies of these pig foods seemed to have been plentiful in the North Island, said Mr Miller, but in the South Island they were extremely difficult to obtain. Mr Miller said that he had tried to get bran for certificate of record testing, but had been refused permission by the Wheat Committee.

It was decided by the committee that the secretary should approach the Wheat Controller (Mr R. McPherson) to investigate the complaint referred to the council, and also to obtain, if possible, a ruling on the whole question of bran and pollard supply for pig producers.

Government Stock Seed applications close at the end of this month. Farmers interested should immediately make application. Further particulars obtainable from Alex. McDonald and Co., Grain, Seed, and Produce Merchants, 194 Cashel street. ’Phone 31-580 or 38-800. 7114