PORK AND BACON

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3615, 16 September 1927, Page 8

PORK AND BACON

Annual Meeting of Pig Co-Operation REPORT ON HOME MARKET i CONDITIONS The annual meeting of the North Island Dairy Companies Pig Cooperation was held in Palmerston North yesterday Mr. S. A. Broadbelt (Levin) presiding. The following companys were represented:—Rangltikei, Cheltenham, Bangiwahia, Awahuri, Levin. Rata, Kairanga, Carterton. The annual report of th e chairman, as already published was adopted. Tn enlarging upon his statement of the year’s working, Mr. Broadbelt explained that it was no fault of the New Zealand end of the export trade that failure had been met The trouble had been the glut on the Home market just as the New Zealand consignments arrived. Then there had been the depression In England which had interferred with the spending powers of the consumers. It was quite evident, however, that but for the exporting of pork, the Now Zealand price would not have been as high as it was. It appeared to him that a continuation of the export trade was necessary although he believed the price paid by Dominion curcrs would be more in lino with export prices. Mr. Broad- : belt then referred to the conclusions that the executive had come to in regard to the class of carcase that should be sent abroad and which had been mentioned in the annual report. He did not think, however, that New Zealand could really supply enough porker-pigs to keep the English pork market going and that was why he had thought the farmers should have gone principally for the baconer. Conditions at Home. Mr. H. McManaway, of Bulls, who. during a recent visit to England had the opportunity of seeing how New Zealand pork and bacon was handled at Home, gave his impressions on; what he saw. “One of the things I noticed was that our pigs were not on sale at the huge stalls at Smithfield,” said the speaker. “The reason he said, was that if the meat was displayed, it would cost at least six per cent. more. In the opinion of the London agents that extra cost was not warranted i.e. that New Zealand farmers would not gain anything. The'agents had their methods of disposing of the meat and it was almost impossible to change a »y system in England. He found New Zealand pigs selling very low at the time he was Home. The English market was not really a pork one—they went more for bacon. Further the people in England who could afford it, showed a preference for Eng-lish-grown pigs. It was a prejudice | that would be hard to break. How-! ever, h e was able to tell the London j merchants what New Zealand could do and had received the reply that his little talks with them had done more than years of writing. H e had every confidence in the future. As regards the slump which the New Zealand pork and bacon had struck, the speaker told the meeting that a large factor in the low price,-, received, was the arrival of hug< consignments of Argentine meat. Then again, a large number of the pigs were too heavy for the English idea of a porker and yet too small for a baconer. Those pigs were no use in London and only doing New Zealand harm. It would be better for farmers to keep the porker below 1001 b. in v,'eight. He did not agree that more attention should be given *o the porker trade. The time when th n best norkers wero ready in New! Zealand (in the spring) was an unsuitable time to' send to England. With the bacon business he did not think they could look for any great i increase in price on sales for some ' time. He could ha ve bought good | bacon in England by the side, for lOd per lb. The position really was, could the farmers produce their pigs more cheaply? He was sorry to see the increasing practice by farmers of quitting sows before the winter and competing against each other In the spring- until prices soared In order to get a few small wcaners or stores. The farmers must grow their own animals for a start. Then ho felt sure that the export trade would have, to be kept going to keep the New Zealand price of pigs up. The only salvation was to find a market for the exportable surplus. They could do nothing better than keep the Co-operation going. There had been a loss last year but the year I before nobody growled when they | paid out an average of 6,Gd per II). | It had to be remembered 'hat the proprietary concerns that had exported had lost as well and the Co- 1

operation was not the only concern to suffer. In a few years they would find out tho very great benefit that would accure from tho continuation of the scheme.

j In answer to Mr. P. .Hansen, (Awahuri) the speaker .said that ;more attention might be paid to the grading. The class of porker wanted a ( Homo was one between GOlbs. to Stubs, and they would take up to lOOiba. The baconer waited was

from ISOIbs to J7C!bs The in-be-tween weights should be cut out. The white pig was preferred. Mr. McManaway was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address.

Mr., P. J. Small (Kairanga) regre'tted the paucity of the attendance. There were too many farmers riding on the shoulders of those who did all the \Vork. A big cooperative effort in whch all farmers took their share, would mean thousands of pounds to the industry. The executive had done wonders under the circumstances and he offered his congratulations. Mr. D. Buchanan (Tiakitahuna) suggested the sending Home of cooked ham. There was a tremendous amount of that commodity used by England during the summer months he said. In answer to Mr. N. Campbell (Awahuri) it was stated that the cost of handling pigs to the hooks, London, was slightly less than three pence per lb Organisation to Continue. The chairman reported that movements were on foot in other parts of New Zealand to form similar organisations and although things last season had not been profitable yet the prospects were encouraging. He moved that th c Co-operation be kept going. ' 1 . Mr C. G. C, Dormer (Cheltenham) seconded. Ejfport was absolutely necessary and if the Dairy companies would not do it, then thc proprietary concerns would, he added. , The. motion was carried and the old executive was returned to joftice*