PORK EXPORT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 119, 17 February 1928, Page 6

PORK EXPORT

CO-OPERATIVE ACTION WHAT SHOULD BE DONE THE SUBSIDY Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, February 16. "If we are to get the pork industry on co-operative lines, all producers must join together, and see that the subsidy is for the pork industry’s future, as well as for the present need.” These were the opening words of a letter to to-day’s meeting of the Wellington Provincial Executive of the Dairy Farmers* Union, in Palmerston, from Mr. N. Campbell, president of the union, who was absent indisposed. There was no doubt that the stage had now been reached, he proceeded, when pig raisers were receiving greater attention than before, and during the past year the possibilities of export had been brought well to the fore. Breeding for market requirements was wisely being advocated, and proprietary concerns were now buying for export, :gnd co-operatlvo marketing associations uad come into being, and were becoming more firmly established. The Government was alive to the value of the trade, and had come forward with practical assistance for tho noxt three seasons. Although at present the Government was giving a bounty of id. per lb. on exported baconers and porkers, it was more probable that after the present term tho bounty would apply to porkers only, and rightly so. Mr. Campbell said that Continental suppliers of pork were shut out of the London market, and , after the home grown, our - New Zealand frozen porkers were 1 the next highest grade on tho market, and our object should be to establish firmly that position. Baconers, on the other hand, bad to meet competition from a flood of Continental cured bacon, which dominated the British market to-day. He asked why they should send coals to Newcastle. Fig-breeders now were in a similar position to the dairy farmer at Die time of the co-operative dairy company movements, with the difference that they had the lessons of the present conditions in the dairying and frozen meat industries to learn from. The Government, he thought, should immediately declare whether, after the present term the bounty was to apply to porkers only so that farmers could consider and make whatever changes in their farming were advisable. There was no doubt which course pigbreeders should adopt if consideration were given to factors of dairy and frozen meat industries to-day. If matters were allowed to drift the trade would be quickly dominated by proprietary interests, and the Government’s assistance would greatly help these interests. The majority of pigraisers put off small numbers and consequently were loath to face the delays involved in an export trade. Particularly did this apply to the export of porters. As the London demand was seasonal in the early part of the year, it was a good policy to store porkers in New Zealand :o as to catch the opening of the London season about September. Undoubtedly the best and most economical method was for the dairy companies to take the matter up and handle their suppliers’ pigs as a separate department of the dairy company and on tho same lines as the milk supply. The attitude of the majority of dairy company directors was the principal bar to a progressive policy. An alteration to the articles of association might be necessary, but surely this was not an insurmountable difficulty. That the executive should take a decided stand in regard to this matter was the view expressed by the chairman (Mr. P. J. Small), who added that whatever was done would have to be united action.