TARANAKI PIG BREEDERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 11 August 1928, Page 10

TARANAKI PIG BREEDERS.

AiNNUAE MEETING OF THE BRANCH.

The annual meeting of the Taranaki Pig breeders’ Association was held in New Plymouth yesterday. Mr Don Stewart (Normunby) presided and there were present. Messrs H. J. W-elbber, P. Ogle, .7. ThomiHnson, O', Robertson, Alien, A. PI. Grover, A. R. Gudopp, \V. B. Grant, F. W. Carney. Ajpalqgies were received from Alessrs C. H. Washer and J. Id. Allan. The third annual! 'report stated that the committee had met. on six occasions during the past year. The New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Association decided last year to giant to the local branches a subsidy of 5s for each financial member of the association. The branch’s subsidy had not come to band, although advice bad been received that, the sum of £-5 5s would be available. The only other revenue received during the year had been £2, contributed by members of the committee, and this amount had been sufficient to cover the cost of - advertising, postages, etc. J.t would be necessary far the annual meeting to con_ sider the question of branch finance. The second annual sale of pedigree pigs was held in Hawera on July 2n and was well patronised by breeders, a catalogue of 84 animals being offered. Prices were in favour of pm chasers, but nevertheless a large humber of pigs changed hands. Proposals tor the purchasing of pig foods and group competitions at A. and P. shows were submitted by the Mann-waiu-Oroua branch, and; have been considered by the cainniittee. Through the efforts of Mr W. B. Grant, Professor Rliddet, of the Massey Agricultural College. visited Hiawera and: addressed member's of the branch and others interested on the subject of pig breeding. The committee wish to thank tße ilairanaki, Figment and Stratford A. and P. Associations, for their assistance at their respective .shows, Messrs Newton King, 1/tcL, as auctioneers for the pedigree sail®, the Press and all who have assisted the branch in any way during the past year. A. letter bad been received by Air Grant from Dr. Rcakes, Director-Gen-eral of Agriculture, in reply to a query regarding the introduction of new Becrkshii re blood into the country. Berkshires had .been imported from Australia. lie .sakl. but that avenue of importation was temporarily blocked through an outbreak of swine fever. It was necessary to have more first-hand experience before the importation of Canadian animals could be advised. During bis visit to England he. had seen few sires which impressed him, and if any relaxation in importation restrictions were made there would be no more than a limited number of any one type. So far as he could see., the possibility of imported Canadian Berkshires or of a Danish type* seemed to be most useful to New Zealand producers. It. was decided to leave; the question of importations and. of grading pork in the hands* of Air Grant to bring it before the Board qf Agriculture.

The question o.f inter-branch competitions in the five breeds of pigs .suggested by Alanaiwatu-Oroua was strongly favoured, but the. suggestion was made that a less pretention scheme, should be evolved. i.n view of the. necessity for money to carry on the branch tire chairman propose cl a levy of lOls per member, but on the opinion being expressed that, if members could he induced to become financial a subsidy would be available from the parent body, the levy was reduced: tIQ f»S. The following officers were elected: President, Mr Don. Stewart; vice-presi-dent, Mr A. H. Grover; committee, Messrs O. Roberts on, J, Thomlinson, F. Ogle. Cl H. Washer, A. R. Gudopp; honorary *,secretary, Air Al. Cl Orighton. Votes of thanks were passed to Air J. Thomlinson for bis services at the pig sale, to Mr H. J. Webber for his assistance on the committee; and to Air At. O. Orighton for his secretarial work. Thanks were also accorded the A. and P. Associations for the use of their rooms and the provision of trophies.