THE PIG MARKET

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 13, 16 July 1934, Page 12

THE PIG MARKET

RETURNS TO FARMERS

PROFITABLE SIDE LINE

Another very successful year, both from the point of view of the number of pigg and .'bobby calves, entrusted to them aiid from the point of view of realisations, has ;been experienced by the New Zealand Co-operati.ve ; Pig .Marketing Association, Ltd*, Hamilton. The financial year ended May 31: and for the period under review the record number of 110,632 pigs -was handled.'chiefly .for-export to the United Kingdom, and over 166,000 bobby calves: The turnover for the period was in excess of £300.000. also: a .record.

The income aud expenditure account shows that after allowing for all costs and charges of collecting pigs and railage to works, all freezing works charges due and accrued, shipping charges and insurance,. ofhee and administration expenses that. £174.589 os.9d remains available for the suppliers. Advance payments made to suppliers at the time the pigs were received has accounted for £138,482 Is 9d. In December last a second advance payment on pigs received from June 1, 1933 to October 30, 1933, was paid out at ]Ad' per: Jb: on porkers- and %d per lb on baeoners. , This was -in. accordance with the request;of members at the last annual meeting, when it. was de »J d that a payment to the extent of suip.us in hand be paid out on' the winter and spring pigs if possible before Christmas. The usual provision has been made for'payment up of capital-and l/16d per lb on all pork supplied has been appropriated to the special; reserve fund for that purpose. After providing for all the above, there remains tor final distribution to suppliers £31,369 5s ,J. Hie directors propose to pay this out as soon as possible, and suppliers will receive their cheques during August. • The balance-sheet shows that the assets of the company remain in" the same liquid position! as last year, and the stocks of carcasses in freezers are not large, particularly in view of the greater number of pigs handled during the year. Most of the pigs held in store are merely awaiting delivery, either to United Kingdom buyers or to local bacon companies for their winter requirements. The directors will be. able to make the August payment I this year, a final one. Usually air interim1 payment is made in .August and a final payment soon afterwards. The final total' returns to ' the farmers will be: For porkers up to .801b, the winter and spring pigs will be sMsd per lb; the summer, pigs sAd to'od,- and the autumn pigs-at 4%d. ; The returns on heavier weight porkers are equally satisfactory. In baconers the early pigs wilj show 4d petto to ; producers;'Tising to 4'%tl in November, then.to A*Ad; and later to 4 7-Sd in April., The figures quoted are for prime grade. Finest >selected: baconers will net ianneis %d per lb premium over the prices mentioned. Choppers will complete the season l%d per lb all through. : ; The, association paid all. railage charges to -freezing works, aud subsidised direct deliveries. :io .direct charge has been made to suppliers for'insurance for condemned pigs. Or the. association's supply for- the year it is calculated that these charges absorbed by the company are equivalent to' J4d per lb additional on the .whole.supply. -~ . i . Deposits: on-short term and at call stand at £22.899 4s 4d.. and represent surplus iunds held for final distribution The balance required for the final payment is due and payable during August. During the year the association's operations have been extended to the South Island and North Taranaki, and'the report states that in-both of these new districts the support given to the association has been pleasing to .the directors. Overhead and general administration charges continue to show an improvement, and .this year on the .basis, of turnover are more than 1 per cent, less' than last year.