PORK EXPORT TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 50, 27 August 1937, Page 10

PORK EXPORT TRADE

RAPID EXPANSION

NEW NATIONAL SCHEME

The rapid expansion of the Dominion's pork export trade was shown from an analysis of the killings of exports from 1923 to 1937, stated the chairman (Mr. T. A. Duncan) at the annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board today. In 1923 the total exports of porkers and baconers amounted to only 4943 carcasses, he said, since when there had been a gradual increase, and it was expected that the exports this season would not be far short of 700,000 pigs. It was pleasing to note that Jhe De : partment of Agriculture had introduced a national scheme for the development of the pig industry, which would be available to all farmers in the Dominion. A practical and qualified instructional service should do much to improve the general type and quality oi the pigs. New Zealand porker pigs were particularly well thought of on Smithfield Market; in fact, in the opinion of the trade, there was no better quality coming to that market. It was also pleasing to note the steady increase in New Zealand's shipments of baconers, but there was still room for improvement in the quality, and the board's opinion was that the time was opportune for the standard of the grading of baconers to be revised. 8 Speaking again later, Mr. Duncan said that right from the start ttjbwd had appreciated the value to New Zealand of the development of the pig industry. A special reduction in freight had been obtained from the shipping companies, the object of the board being to try and get the costs down and so help the producers He thought that this action had prejudiced the board a little in connection with any reduction on New Zealand lamb, and he wanted the pig producers to appreciate this point. The board had done everything it could to try and assist the pig producers. There was not one member of the board who had not the interests of New Zealand and the producers at heart.