PIG INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 48, 25 January 1934, Page 6

PIG INDUSTRY

UNIFORM GRADING SOUGHT. GOVERNMENT SUPERVISION URGED. Having endorsed the principle of compulsory Government grading or pigs by Government officers, with a request for the united support of all interested organisations in any action taken to put these methods into immediate operation, the ManawatuOroua branch of the New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Association to-day called a meeting of representatives .of the •various phases of the pig industry to discuss the situation. Mr H. E. Thurston (Feilding) presided over a large attendance. It was pointed out at a previous meeting that owing to the absence of a uniform standard of grading compulsorily. applied at every killing celitre by Government officers, independent of the firms purchasing pigs, there was a widespread lack of confidence on the part of farmers in grading methods. Though they had been making reasonably good. efforts to produce better pigs both in type and finish, the adequate assistance anticipated from pig grading had not been forthcoming, owing to confusion arising from the lack of uniformity in methods at different centres. .It was felt that this- situation was inimical to the interests of the industry as a whole. A NATIONAL POLICY.

Representing the New Zealand Bacon Curers’ Association, Mr A. H. Honeyfield congratulated, the organisers of the meeting. He said he failed to see why it should not be capable of formulating a national policy for the development and efficient control of the pig industry. He had no hesitation in saying that a large percentage of the pigs reaching the works to-day were not what were required by consumers both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Properly regulated Government grading should be instituted to encourage New Zealand farmers to compete with the most competent foreign producers. Heavy ana fat, dumpy pigs could be sold, but at a price not profitable to the producers. This viewpoint was endorsed by Mr N. P Nielsen, of Tiakitahuna, on behalf of the New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Association. The matter had been under discussion for the past ten year's, he said, but nothing definite had been done. The Government should be approached on the matter as soon as possible. The mutton and beef trades were well .organised in this direction, and it should not be impossible for the pig industryProfessor W. Riddet, speaking for the Mauawatu Pig. Recording and Development Club, said the object of continuing the principle of grading should first he affirmed.. British farmers were working to a certain standard of grading, and New Zealand should aim at a similar objective. Formerly the price of butterfat had been sufficiently attractive for the utilisation of skim milk to be ignored’. Now, however, under good management, the use or skim milk in feeding pigs could be made to add IJd to 2d per lb to the value of butterfat, hut an outlet had to be found for the pigs. If the pig industry of New Zealand was prepared to pay for Government grading it would get it. Otherwise it would have to continue under the present method. Personally, he favoured a system which gave . uniformity. . The chairman said general satisfaction. was felt with the standard .of grading, ~ hut Government supervision was ; sought. MEETING THE DEMAND. Mr C. Hausmann, president of th® New Zealand Bacon Curers’ Association said that even though- the question had been discussed for the past decade, some progress had been made. To increase the demand, the standard and type of pig required by the consumers must be provided. Formerly New Zealand had sent only a very small quantity of pigs to the United Kingdom, but with embargoes operating against' foreign producers it was now entering a period of much bigger supply. However; if second-class articles were placed on the market, a second-class price only could be expected. Provided Government supervision was introduced, there should ba immediate compliance, and the system should be strictly enforced to secur® the best possible standardisation. Grading would go out altogether in the next twelve months, and New Zealand would become “a back number” in the pig industry if the present haphazard methods of grading were continued, and the system was merely played with. Mr M.. E. Knudson, Whakarongo, said he understood that one export firm was refusing to come into line with the object sought. Mr N. P. Nielsen said that the issue of, compulsory grading could not be side-stepped. Mr W. G. .Scott (Glen Oroua) said efficient grading was the basis of all well-organised and sound export industries. Mr E. P. Nielsen said all agreed that Government grading was wanted, but the stumbling block appeared to be the finance. It was estimated, said Professor Riddet, that a modified system or grading under Government supervision would cost 2d per pig. Mr N. Lyons (Kopane) said that, provided the cost did not exceed 2d or 3d per pig, grading should be carried out on the same lines as in the dairying industry. He moved a resolution on those lines. DEPUTATION ADVOCATED. Mr Philips, of Hamilton, chairman of the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association, said that Government grading at all works would be most acceptable, as no other system was of any practical use. He advocated sending a strong deputation direct to the Minister to make representations. Considering the advantages which would accrue to the industry, Mr Scott said the cost of Government grading would be infinitesimal. Mr Lyons’s motion was then carried unanimously as follows: “That this meeting requests the Government to undertake the grading of . all pigs for local consumption and export, and that charges be made for this service in the same way as for dairy produce.” . The question of arranging a deputation to the Minister was then discussed Mr Honeyfield suggested that they should forward a letter to the Dairy Produce Board and to the Meat Board. asking them to nominate representatives. ’ Both Messrs Phillips and Hausmann counselled that a deputation should go to the Pig Advisory Committee beto™ a Pi> r oacting the Minister. Mr E. E. Hale, chairman of the NVaikato Pig Recording .Club, said that but for the apathy of the Government the Advisory Committee could nave done a great deal for the industry. . Ultimately it was decided to make representations through the Pig Advisory Committee with the intention later of approaching the Minister.