Increase in Production of Pig Meats Requested

Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 43, 19 April 1940, Page 5

Increase in Production of Pig Meats Requested

DEPARTMENT’S APPEAL THE INVASION OF DENMARK EFFECT <IN GREAT BRITAIN CAD MI'ST BE BRIDGED WELLINGTON. This Day. An appeal for an increase in the production of pig meats was made by Mr A. H. Cockayne; Controller of Primary Production, in an interview today. Mr Cockayne drew attention to the fact that Great Britain had been cut off from her greatest supplier of pig meats by the German invasion of Denmark, and said that it was now the duty of the New Zealand producer to do everything in his power to bridge the gap.

“Men, resources, and provisions are indispensable to success in war,” said Mr Cockayne. “Take one away and the others are ineffective. The home front army of primary producers who cannot go overseas have just as big a task in providing food supplies as the overseas army has in the Held of battle.

“With all Hie earnestness at my command I therefore appeal once again to Hie primary producers of New Zeah.iul to put all ,their thought and action into increased production, especially Die production of pig ineat. Events of the last few days plainly shows the urgency and stark necessity of increasing our output of bacon to fiß the gap left by Denmark’s disappearance as a supplier of pig meats lo Great Britain. Even though bacon bad lo lie produced at a loss no farmer who values the splendid * name New Zealanders made in the last war could lay any claim to share in that proud honour, nor could he feel he was doing his part in protecting these shares, if he sat back and considered only his own profits. Primary production is his service, just as real and just as necessary as service with the fighting forces. Actually the stage is set for profitable production—a market, that can absorb ten times our produce now and for the next decade; excellent prices; no restrictions by Great Britain on the kind of pig meats supplied: a fully organised advisory serviep. Your effort alone can supply the pigs. Directed along the following lines that- effort will lie successful.

“First, pul all sows lo the boar at the earliest opportunity. Second, increase sows up to or beyond the 1937 level by keeping or procuring Hie best sows now being sold as bacon. Third, begin t,o make provision for feeding extra pigs by growing extra crops—one acre for every twenty cows milked would mean an additional;.3o,ooo tons of pig meat, over one and a half million added to our sterling .funds. Fourth, procure the Departmental Bulletins, 767 on general management. and 177 on houses and layout, through your Dairy Company; Fifth, get your pig equipment up to date during the winter and be ready to produce to the maximum next spring. “While the farmers constitute the hulk of primary producers and while increased production is finally the result of their efforts, many allied interests are also included. Banks, lending institutions, sto ;k and station agents, dairy companies and others doing farmers’ business can give material assistance and are allied to give favourable:, consideration to increased production and to play their part in making it possible.”