PIG "TESTING"

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 114, 10 November 1934, Page 11

PIG "TESTING"

MANAWATU PROPOSAL

(Special to the "Evening Post.") PALMEBSTON 2?., This Day. The Mana'watu-Oroua Pig Recording Club has been endeavouring to .establish'on a Dominion-wide basis a system of "testing" pigs on line* similar to the testing of cows for performance. It was considered that certificates of performance would serve a very valuable puipose, and in order to get the scheme,operating ovor the whole of New, Zealand the help of the Agricultural Department was sought, Mr. A. H. Cockayne, assistant Director of Agriculture, was very sympathetic, and accordr ing to members of the Recording Club ventured the. opinion that tlfo.: "testing" should be brought into operation as soon as possible. Steps taken to bring about tho desired object went eren as far as the, framing of the necessary regulations, and, consequently it came as a bombshell to the club this week to recciv'o from Mr. Cockayne a letter in which ho declares that the Department cannot now go ahead with the »ehflme. He would much prefer to see the Recording Club cai'ry out the exploratory work on the lines that had beeii discussed by "tlie club with him. When the club considered the letter la«t evenirift, members expressed surprise at Mr. Cockayne's change of attitude, but decided.to carry on with tho scheme without the Department's assistance. The standards fixed aro sufficiently high to servo a national purpose, and the certificates to bo issued will. bg. as valuable as if issued by the Department.

The club ia going ahead with, the scheme immediately.