PORK EXPORT TRADE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 21 January 1928, Page 4

PORK EXPORT TRADE

INCREASED PRODUCTION. DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY. AUCKLAND, Jan. 18. “We find that, owing to the increased effort o£ everybody in this country so tar as our exports arc concerned, there has been increased production,” said the Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates) in a speech at. iieiensville in referring to the growth of primary industries in general, and that appertaining to pig-raising in particular. He spoke in justification ot the pork export subsidy, and hoped the industry would be, as a result, placed in a much sounder position than at present with the co-operation of those concerned.

Using the argument that New Zealand could not compete with other countries on the Home markets on account of the difference io£ diet of New Zealand pigs, most intelligent men, he said, had told him that the pork export trade could not be strengthened. On the other hand, the late Hon. W. F. Massey had given the assurance-on his return to the Dominion from England in 1923 that the industry had a great future. This was subsequently confirmed by reliable men associated with the Dairy and Meat. Boards. Giving an indication of the progress that had been ma'de in the industry, Mr Coates stated that within the past two or three years the number of stock had increased from 280,000 to 500,000 or 600,000. Denmark, which was the principal exporter of pork to Great Britain, exported a greater value of bacon and pig products than she did of other dairy products. “Can we get into that market ?” asked Mr Coates. According to reliable information he had received on his recent visit to England, the New Zealand porker was regarded as being equal to anything imported into the country, but there was a necessity to secure the required weight, age and maturity. Last year the Dominion’s pork and bacon exports aggregated £,200,000 in value, and if this could be increased to £5,000,000 they would have a new industry that would be of benefit to the pimary producers and reflect prosperity on the remainder of the community. The times of depression through which the Dominion was passing were the direct result of the knock that the farmers had received, but if they could increase their exports, conditions would quickly improve. When the Government found the pigraising industry was lagging and there W'as a danger of the farmers forsaking the business in preference to some other, it decided to co-operate with the producers’ boards and give the men involved in ‘ the industry some practical assistance by way of a subsidy. He knew that the question of the propping up of this industry or that industry was widely discussed, but on the other hand, in the case of an emergency, very few could cavil at the Government assisting a business that must in the end prdve of value to the country.