MARKET FOR NEW ZEALAND PIGS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 December 1933, Page 6

MARKET FOR NEW ZEALAND PIGS.

LARGER EXPORT BUSINESS THIS SEASON. In an interview with Mr W. A. Phillips, Chairman of Directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association, Limited, on the question of the English Pig Re-organisation Scheme and its results, he stated that while his company was fortunate in having its own curing factory in Newcastle to take full advantage of the benefits of .thie scheme, without risk in connection with the price guaranteed to the English producers, the English curers . who, under some Government protection had given this guarantee, were not,so happy.

i ’“‘The position at the end of October was that some 620,000 baconer pigs had been contracted for by the English icurera at 12a' per score (20 IbsO or approximately 7d per pound for the best class of pigi Oh this basis, we are advised, that it-,will cost 100 s per ewt. to produce a ewt, of bacon, which, as a result of the manipulations of foreign imports, both before and since the minimum price ,was fixed for the English producer, is now selling 'at 74s per cwt. It will therefore be seen that bn the present ruling price for bacon the contracts-made by the. eurers are showing a loss-of. 26s per cwt., which, on the pigs contracted for, is estimated at £750,000.

"According to a statement which I ' have read in an English paper just t 6 .hand, this position has been brought about as a result Of a deliberate attempt by foreign exporters to wreck the scheme by depressing the market for their own-product below the econoA mic level atvwhieh the British scheme could function. . The'effect of these manipulations was reflected in the re-. cent drop of id per lb. in the export value of baconer pigs. ■“As our factory was established to handle the frozen product from New Zealand only, we are in the happy position of being able to secure the best market for our baconer pigs, without any, risk regarding the guarantee to English producers under > the scheme. ” Asked he*w (his . company’s supply compared with that of last year; Mr Phillips said that whilst, apart from -the established exporters ; there were many new concerns operating in the export business this year, he was happy to say that the pigs handled by his tcompany to date, which, compared with Hast year included a much larger per■centage of baconers, showed a substantial increase on those handled for the corresponding period l last year. Mr Phillips remarked "that a very pleasing feature of-this expprt season

was the fact that the continued exchange, and much improved market at Home, had produced realisations on pigs- already marketed which show a relatively greatly improved position on last year. . Referring to the market for bobby calves, Mr Phillips said that owing to the over supplied state of th© market at it was difficult to forecast the outlook for next year, but he was pleased to say that his Company ’e purchases of 165,000 had all been cleared with an entirely satisfactory result.