PIG CO-OPERATION OF DAIRY COMPANIES.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 48, 25 August 1926, Page 11

PIG CO-OPERATION OF DAIRY COMPANIES.

The North Island Dairy Companies' Pig Cooperation is sending delegates to farmers' gatherings to Interest dairy companies and farmers in its scheme for utilising exportable and unexportable pigs. A member of the executive, Mr. L. Gardner, told a, Farmers' Union meeting in Southern Hawkes Bay that the scheme was "really a federation of dairy companies." It meant co-oporatioa of the dairy companies, the freezing company, the banker, and the broker, and was not antagonistic to the bacon companies. Thoy would sell pigs to the bacon companies provided the latter gave suppliers London parity. Mr. Gardner is reported by the Dannovjhke "Evening News" as further stating that one of the great barriers to tho successful working of tho scheme had been the imexportablo pig—tho Government would not nllow more thiin 40 per cent, of tho pigs to bo exported, owing to various minor defects, mainly for health reasons. And Spr this reason thn executive had found it necessary to work in with tho FeUding Freezing Company and Bacon Company for treating unexportablo pigs. The FeUding Bacon Company took off the executive's hands all the unexportable pigs at a fifth of a penny per lb net to the farmer above the local average that was paid in Wellington and Wairarapa. The result was that farmers were now getting something for their unexportablo pigs and consequently more pigs were being reared in the districts in which the association operated than in former years. The exportable pigs were sold through the association, which netted the farmer a higher figure than he had been getting.

Mr. It. S. Chadwick said it appeared to him that it would have been better had the association concentrated at Wellington instead of at Poilding. Had the executive considered tho ports of either Wellington on Wanganul?

Mr. Gardner replied that they had, and found Fending to be cheaper to work from.

Mr. Chadwick Bald he did not desire to soo "schllnter" worked upon the pig people.

Mr. Gardner assured Mr. Chadwick that everything was square and above board, and the association welcomed criticism or any suggestion for the betterment of tho scheme. Mr. Chadwick said the scheme was quite a good one, provided the interests of tho producer were safeguarded. In roply, Mr. Gardner said that Dalgety's, who had financed the scheme, charged only a 2% per cent, brokerage fee, and, as a matter of fact, had lost money on it.

Mr. A. MTflcol asked if tho Meat Board wero interested.

Mr. Gardner replied that tho scheme had the support of the Meat Board, but it was.not concerned in the control.

It was decided to ask the Southern Hawkos Bay Pig Breeders' Association to convene a meeting of dairy factory representatives to discuss tho scheme.