THE PIG INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 91, 15 March 1935, Page 12

THE PIG INDUSTRY

EXPORTS TO BRITAIN. SURVEY BY MR D. JONES. WELLINGTON, March 14. Advice to New Zealand pig farmers is contained in a survey of the pork marketing situation in Great Britain made in an interview by the chairman of tlie Meat Producers’ _ Board, Mr David Jones. After having spent six months in London Mr Jones returned to Wellington yesterday by the Rangitane. “The export of pork from the Dominion has been rapidly growing, particularly in the last three years,” lie said. “Prior to Ottawa the enormous increase in bacon from the Continent of Europe had driven prices down to below sixpence per lb. On value it was the cheapest meat in Britain, and affected even the consumption of mutton and lamb. “A commission was sitting surveying and reporting to the British Government at the time the Ottawa Conference was held. The British Government stated they intended to control the importations and increase the proportion of the trade both to the Home and Dominion fanners. This was done very effectively, and heavy reductions made in foreign supplies. “The view Held was that bacon then selling at about 45s to 50s per cwt. should not be sold at less than 80s per cwt. This quota system immediately affected prices, and the increased price obtained has been the main reason for the rapid expansion of the business in New Zealand. This fact is not sufficiently appreciated by the New Zealand pig-raisers and exporters. The difficult financial position of the dairy farmer with his produce at such a low price materially assisted. The term frozen pork has been applied to all pigs in carcases, but it is necessary to differentiate because the quotas fixed are for pork and bacon pigs separately. Weight is the deciding factor between those two classes. VERY FAT PIG UNWANTED. “The quality of the Dominion pigs is excellent, but the very fat pig is not wanted. I was present at the judging of two New Zealand show lots at Smithfield. The three judges did their work very thoroughly ; there was a difference of opinion over one exhibit and the pigs in dispute were cut up with an electric saw and ,judged in joints. The lot that was placed first in New Zealand was passed over without hesitation as being too fat for the trade in Britain. The grading of the pigs for export from the Dominion is giving great satisfaction and should be continued on the same lines as at present. “The British Government lias very complete machinery for handling their bacon scheme. When we remember Britain’s o'd-time policy of non-inter-ference with trade and see the control that is being exercised to-day. it shows that a rapid and complete change has taken place in Britain’s trade policy. The British pig fattener is under a quota system and he has also to guarantee to supply a certain quality of bacon pigs annually and is liable to a fine if he breaks his contract. The Government has not been unreasonable in enforcing these agreements if the farmer can show cause, but careless and deliberate non-carrying out of the obligations entered into have resulted in farmers being fined for breaches of agreement. “Th British Government is guaranteeing, a price, and when the year’s supply of pigs are contracted tor these are allotted to bacon curers and the imports from foreign and Dominion sources are then limited to the estimated requirements of the British market. “It is essential that these supplies come forward or disorganisation will take place, that would threaten the whole scheme. Britain has carried out her promise to give the Dominion an expanding share of the pork and bacon trade. Our increased exports of pork (below 1001 b weight) have been rapid and we cannot afford to overload this market. It is a trade that will steadily grow, but it must be given time to develop, otherwise if too heavy quantities are sent forward it must reduce the price. The quota has been to the advantage of the Dominion in this respect. The frozen pork (bacon weights) is on quite a. different footing. The consumption of bacon in Britain is enormous and there are no treaties barring the way. As the Home and Dominion quantities increase Britain is free, if she will, to reduce the importations from foreign countries. “We secured for the New Zealand quota in our recent negotiations 12,500 tons for the year 1935, which was liberal treatment, and we appreciated it. The farmer, however, prefers to send forward the porker pig, and these have been coming forward in embarrassing numbers. It is quite clear that in the future a policy will have .to be laid down which will ensure that the proper proportion of porker and baconer pigs will be fattened to carry out our obligations to the British Government. “The policy of the Meat Board lias always been to allow as much freedom of action as possible, but we may probably have no choice in this matter. There has been some criticism of the Meat Board’s action in connection with bobby calves and boneless beet, but I am satisfied that the action taken and the results obtained fully justify the policy adopted by the board. It has been helpful to the dairy-farmer, and the board recognises that he wants every assistance in tlie difficult period he is passing through.”