THE P.M.A.

Franklin Times, Volume XXX, Issue 90, 15 August 1941, Page 3

THE P.M.A.

j NINTH ANNUAL MEETING ! 1 HELD AT HAMILTON | A RECORD TURNOVER ' Attended by the most representative gathering of primary producers yet seen in the Waikato, the ninth annual conference and meeting of the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association in Hamilton . was opened by the Minister of Marketing and Agriculture, the Hon. M. G. Barclay. In declaring the conference open, the Minister said he had not come as a politician but as a representative of the Government to seek the co-operation of producers, to meet them personally and to talk over their difficulties.

In extending a welcome to the Minister and the delegates, the Chairman of Directors, Mr. W. A. Phillips, said that the present life.and death struggle had emphasised that the spirit of co-operation applied in its truest sense supplied the only solution to the evils of the competitive system, which to his mine! had brought about the present conflict. Embargo Holds Good After tracing the negotiations between Britain and New Zealand in regard to bacon pigs, Mr Barclay said that as regards baconers there was no indication that next season would be any different from the present season. The embargo still held good but the whole position of the meat industry was at present the subject of negotiation. No one could blame Britain for importing baconers from America for it had to be remembered that it was a case of life and death to the Mother Country. The problem in New Zealand was that of having too much food, but' surely it was nothing like the problem of having insufficient food. The stage had been reached when producers would have to be asked for planned production. The Minister added that he thou o ht the Pig Marketing Association aimed at organising the pig industry on a cooperative basis just as the butter and cneese industry had been organised. It was greatly to its credit that it was doing this, and the Government would like to see the Association continuing and expanding its activities.

A record turnover and an increase in the number of stock handled in each Department of the Association was reviewed at the annual meeting. In all, 110,156 pigs had been handled during the season —an increase of 1810 pigs. A pleasing feature had been the fact that the number sent in on consignment showed an increase of 9,956. The increased percentage of pigs consigned tarough the Association demonstrated the growing confidence ol' farmers in the real and fundamental objectives of the Association. A total of 61 bobby calf pools had linked up with the Association's national marketing organisation, a record figure of 328,745 calvelsl being handled for the twelve months and an increase of 75,000 over the previous season. 4,394 cull cattle had been handled on consignment on behalf of suppliers, this ligure showing an increase of 1,360 over the previous yeai. In the three departments —pigs, bobby calves and cull cattle —the association handled a total of 443,295 carcases of an aggregate hooks weight exceeding 26,000,000 lb., on behalf of dairyfarmers throughout New Zealand. A Record Turnover The income and expenditure account showed a gross turnover for the season of £609,754 Is lOd, which was the highest volume handled since (lie Association’s inception nine years ago and represented an increase of £80,660 on last year’s turnover. After deducting all expenses from gross realisations and after providing the usual share capital reserve of l/16d a lb. on all pork supplied, there was a gross amount available for distribution on pigs of £334,150 Is lOd, of which amount £310,946 6s 2d had already been distributed to suppliers of pigs by way of advance payments. The sound financial position ol the Association’s subsidiary bacon companies, the Kiwi Bacon Company and Messrs Flutes, Ltd., Christchurch, was also indicated, the Kiwi Company’s turnover being showm at £183,361. The purchase of the Nikau Bacon Company, Auckland, and the decision to remove the Association’s offices from Hamilton to Auckland in the interests of greater centralisation and economy in administrative-control were appiOAed by the meeting. A lengthy list of remits was consul ered by the delegates, subjects of vital interest to the pig industry being discussed.