MONEY IN PIGS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2804, 23 November 1931, Page 8

MONEY IN PIGS.

FOR SOME FARMERS. A SHELTERED BRITISH MARKET The possibility of a sheltered market in Britain for New Zealand pork now that there was a Government that favoured a tariff for the assistance of the Dominions was discussed at the meeting of the Morrinsville branch of the Farmers’ Union. "We will have to get down to it and produge the 80-pound pig; at present there is nothing in producing baconers,” said Mr A. Topham, after expressing the hope that the change of Government in Britain would be the forerunner of more prosperous times for the New Zealand pork industry. If farmers really wanted a share of the British market, which would be a sheltered market, now. was the time, to get busy. Most fanners would have to get more •. ows and rear their own stores. Mr J. E. Leeson recalled a conversation he had with a prominent man in the trade in London, who had declared that if New Zealand sent a larger number of porkers of the same high quality as those shipped Home ir. recent years the Dominion would soon be as famous for its pork as for its fat lambs. New Zealand had an advantage in having more milk available for pigs than there was in European countries, where huge quantities of meal were used for pig food. There was no better meat than pork from pigs fed with milk. Members agreed that there was a splendid chance of exploiting the British market provided farmers could breed their own stores and strive to turn out the 601 b to 801 b pig. Mr Leeson thought the “Paterson scheme,” as in operation in the Australian butter industry, should be applied to the New Zealand pork exporting industry. “We are exporting only 20 per cent, of the pigs we produce,” the speaker said. “If a levy of a halfpenny per pound was made on all the pork produced wo would be able to pay a subsidy of 2Jd per pound on the pork we export. I think the people who have exported for the last two years have paid the Meat Board levy merely to enable the others to got a good price on the New Zealand market. The boot should be on the other foot.” “The average farmer expects far 100 much for his pigs.” said Mr Topham. “Why, you can buy a bullock

for £7.” It was much easier and more profitable to get two pigs away one away at as a baconer. Twice as many porkers as baconers could be carried with the same accommodation. Of course, farmers rearing porkers would have to keep more sows. Mr R. A. S. Browne: You must have the creep system of feeding so that the little pigs can get their share of the food. There is no doubt that the 401 b pig at eight weeks is the thing to aim at.—-“Morrinsville Star.”