PORK EXPORT

Evening Star, Issue 19762, 12 January 1928, Page 13

PORK EXPORT

DIFFICULTIES OVER SUBSIDY [Special to the ‘Stab,’] WELLINGTON, January 11. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Hawken) conferred to-day with a number of representatives of the pork buying firms, including the co-operative marketing associations which exist in the North Island to deal with the pork export trade. The Minister is unable to discuss the business _of the conference until he has submitted some proposals to Cabinet regarding the method of allocating the Government’s proposed annual subsidy to the export pork industry. It was gathered that the difficulty faced in carrying out the subsidy system is to evolve a plan which makes certain that the Government bonus will actually be in addition to the price paid by the buyers, and that the farmer will get the full subsidy. It is understood that, if possible, the subsidy will bo paid only on porkers for export; but another problem is to organise some system under which the animal can he traced definitely throughout the whole transaction, as there are frequent rejections after killing and veterinary examination.

The Minister has at his disposal the experience of four co-operative marketing associations in the North Island, operating in Northern Wairoa, Waikato, Taranaki, and Wellington provinces, and there is a proposal afoot to organise these farmers’ associations into a federation.