PRODUCTION OF PORK

Evening Star, Issue 22879, 10 February 1938, Page 4

PRODUCTION OF PORK

EMINENT VISITOR’S ADVICE question of practicability Interviewed regarding Dr John Hammond’s recent statement in which he recommended a development of the pork industry, Mr \V. A. Phillips, ■chairman of directors of the. New Zealand Co-operative Pig. Marketing Asso-. elation Ltd., said: ‘- One cannot, but draw the inference that in his opinion we should produce more pork and less bacon. This. advice from a technical viewpoint would be helpful if it were not for the marketing considerations which render it impractical. “ The whole of any increase that takes place in our production has. to be marketed overseas. Only a few years ago we were exporting about 0,509 tons of pork, and only _ 1,500 tons of baconers. At present the figures are 13,000 tons, and between 17,000 and 18.000 tons respectively. “in June of last year, when discussing the grading issue at a public meeting in Hamilton, tho Director of Agriculture, Mr A. 11. Cockayne, stated, inter alia, that so far as pork is concerned, the export to Great Britain has distinct limitations, and i do not consider that the tonnage readily saleable to Great Britain at profitable prices is likely to exceed from 1.5.000 to 20,000 tons at the outside, since her present total imports of frozen pork would not exceed 60,1KK) tons. “ The position, however, regarding baconers is different. Grext Britain at present imports about 500,000 tons of bacon, mainly from foreign countries, and if we supply a suitable quality there is no reason why New Zealand should not develop a market in Britain for 100.000 tons without difficulty, and the treatment afforded us by (treat Britain indicates that she -would appreciate a development in that direction. At no time has Britain suggested a quota so far as baconers are concerned. The position with pork, however, is different, in which connection we have had a very clear and definite indication that expansion in this direction is not favoured.

“ From this official statement,” said Mr Phillips, “ it is clear that the British Government, while indicating practically unlimited freedom in the expansion of our baconer exports, her intimations in the case of pork have been in the reverse direction. f Jhe statement of these facts, I think, is desirable, since without them Dr Hstnmond’s remarks might inadvertently create a false impression which miy be detrimental to the success of the campaign which has been launched over recent months for increased baconer production and an improved type of carcass.”