Producers want say in pig marketing

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33093, 7 December 1972, Page 19

Producers want say in pig marketing

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. Pig producers are determined to take a hand in pig marketing in New Zealand, according to the chairman of the Pork Industry Council (Mr R. A. Oliver).

The council, which represented the interests of pig producers throughout New Zealand, would ask the Government for additional powers so it could ensure that future prices of pork, bacon and ham did not fluctuate wildly, said Mr Oliver. The sudden increase in prices recently was quite unjustified and of no real benefit to producers. “What we want is a fair price for efficient producers so that we can plan ahead,” Mr Oliver said. "Fluctuating prices make this impossible and only reduce consumer confidence.” IMPORT COSTS

Mr Oliver said the Pork Industry Council had forseen a shortage of pigs several months ago, but had been unable to convince the bacon curers that action then would bring the increase needed to meet Christmas trade requirements. "Instead, the trade has imported from Australia and Canada and the price of the product, once landed and processed in New Zealand, has contributed as much to the increase in bacon prices as local supply,” he said. “After all, most of the hams being sold at present are from pigs which were bought several months ago when prices were far lower than now.” Recent conferences of producers have asked the Pork Industry Council to seek increased powers and a

request has gone to the Government for the council to be established under the Primary Products Marketing Act. Mr Oliver said he hoped this would enable the producer board of the pig industry to ensure the kind of supply continuity and stability of prices which the Dairy Board achieved with butter and cheese on the local market. Producers were now being paid 2c per lb more for baconers than a few months ago and this did not justify the present level of price increases.