PIG AND POULTRY PRODUCTS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 150, 21 March 1930, Page 13

PIG AND POULTRY PRODUCTS

Sir,—Your comments on this subject in yesterday’s issue will, I think, be approved by all interested in the development of New Zealand primary industries, barring the statement that “It sounds almost like the prospectus of the traditional cat and rat farm.” This remark was not called for, in my opinion. There is nothing chimerical about the suggestions made. On figures given in the Unemployment in 'New Zealand Committee report, quite the contrary; the report supports all its statements on this subject with facts and figures which are incontestable. My special object in writing now is to mention a feature of the case that is not referred to in your leading article, although it was mentioned in the report, namely, that the establishment of the pig product and poultry, industries on anything like the scale indicated by the committee would mean the salvation of more than one of the meat freezing companies, whose financial career during the past few years has caused great anxiety to directors . and shareholders, and indeed to all persons who desire to keep farmers’ freezing companies in existence in New Zealand. The following extract from the committee’s report puts. the case clearly and accurately. The report says:—; . “We already have in the Dominion the . necessary refrigerating-space- to handle the industry. Our present meat export trade only keeps our freezing works occupied at near full capacity for about two months of the year. For the rest of "the year our works are operating very much below capacity, or aye closed altogether. Nevertheless, we could not carry on our present meat industry with much less killing-space than we now have, as fat lambs must be killed when ready, and the lamb-fattening season is a very short one. The resuji is that ; in our freezing industry the overhead costs in proportion to output are very heavy. A large pig and poultry export trade would greatly extend the operating season at our freezing works, which, besides extending the working season for freezing works employees, would greatly reduce the ratio of overhead to operating expenses, and thus reduce costs all round. This reduction in costs would react to the benefit of our sheep industry by reducing the costs of handling lamb and mutton in our freezing works.” The removal of the duties on stock x foods would not, as pointed out in the report, affect the protection now given to growers of grains for human consumption, but it would at once provide a much-needed stimulant to farming in the Dominion, and help to restore that confidence in farming pursuits that is so conspicuously absent in financial circles throughout the Dominion to-day. When one realises that if the ratio of pigs to milch cows in New Zealand was raised to the same proportion as exists in Denmark, that the export trade of pig products would provide equal to 7,000,000 freight carcasses of meat; or, in other words, double our present meat export—then the great importance . of. speedily removing all obstacles to the development of this trade must be admitted. For the last two seasons I have been doing my humble best to induce the Government of the day to remit these stock food duties. The session before last I had good reason to think that the Government had come round to the same way of thinking as myself and others, but, alas! other influences prevailed, and eventually the duties, as they are now, remained. ;A few people would, no doubt, be prejudicially affected by the remission of the duties. Some farmers in the Auckland province who grow maize would be the greatest sufferers, but they have splendid \ land, which will grow anything, and besides, there will probably always be a good market for first-class locally-grown grain of'high quality at a payable price. At the present time, I venture to submit, the establishment of an industry that may equal in volume and value our total meat export trade, is so important to the whole country that I feel sure action in the direction indicated by the committee would be eagerly supported by the great majority of members of Parliament, and generally by the people of New Zealand. —I am, etc.. EDWARD W. NEWMAN. Marton, March 19.

Sir, —The report of -the Imperial Economic Committee on Pigs and Pig Products, to which reference is made in your leading article to-day, should be studied seriously, not only by those engaged in the rearing of pigs, but still more seriously by the Government. Shipments of bacon have been sent to England on more than one occasion, and the reports received by this company in regard to its shipments have been most satisfactory. One report stated that the quality was comparable with the best English and Irish and even Danish bacon, which has the advantage of a short transport, was little if any better.

One most important point in connection with the development of this industry, however, cannot be overlooked, and that is that the English authorities will not allow boracic to be used in connection with the manufacture of bacon or other foodstuffs. Although there is a regulation in the pure food laws of this Dominion prohibiting the use of boracic. it has been suspended for the past eighteen months, and for some reason or other the Minister of Health cannot be induced to enforce it, although he is fully aware that the use of boracic is not permitted in any other part of the world.

It is well known that shipments of both bacon and hams from New Zealand and Australia have been returned to the shippers on account •of boracic having been used in the cure. It is useless, therefore, to attempt a trade with England until this regulation is strictly enforced and not merely nominal penalties for breaches imposed. Seeing that other countries are so careful of the health of the people it seems somewhat strange that the Government of this Dominion should be so lax. The idea that bacon cannot be cured without boracic is dispelled by the very fact that the use of it is not permitted anywhere else and most excellent bacon is obtainable in these places.—l am, etc., J. C. HUTTON (N.Z.) LIMITED, COLIN MONRO, General Manager. Wellington, March 19.