Sir James Parr Urges Increased Bacon Production

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 92, 20 April 1935, Page 3

Sir James Parr Urges Increased Bacon Production

NECESSITY FOR FILLING EXPORT QUOTA. Some plain advice to New Zealand farmers was contained in a letter from Sir James Parr (High Commissioner) which was read on Thursday to. the Amalgamated Farmers’ Union and Hairy Farmers’ Union. He stated: ‘ ‘ There is a hugo market in this country for good bacon, but some important facts must bo borno in mind. There must bo the proper pig, it must be properly fed and conditioned, and last but not least it must be efficiently cured by experts. 1 “New Zealand is a dairyingcountry like Denmark. But the vast difference is that New Zealand treats bacon as a sideline, whereas Denmark gets the huge sum of about £20,000,000 per year from the English people for her bacon. Indeed, she' gets more money for bacon than for butter. “At present New Zealand is producing pigs for the British porker m.arlcct in largo quantities. This may be profitable for the moment, but we should not neglect bacon possibilities as we are doing. There is a great opportunity open to New Zealand at present of sharing in the expansion of the English bacon industry, brought about by the increasing restriction of Danish and foreign bacons. The increase in English pigs has been enormous in the last two years, and this has been mostly responsible for curtailing imports of Danish bacon. Tho bacon market here is a very largo one, and much more important than tho porker market, which is restricted.

“Tho quota allowed last year for New Zealand baconers was not reached, and for this year the English Government proposed a reduction in tho quota. Only after considerable discussion could I get them to agree to 12,500 tqns for this year. I do hope this quota will not be short delivered, for if we do not make full use of the quota allotted, it is possible the English Government may insist on reducing our allocation. Producers in New Zealand should therefore pay much greater attention to the production of baconers, and should not allow what I fear is a temporary favourable market for porkers to lead them astray. Without doubt there are opportunities at present of getting a substantial share in the English bacon trade, but these will disappear if we do not avail ourselves of our chances.’’ Mr. 11. Seifert said that the matter was not one for tho individual farmers, who, if they were to survive, must follow their own interests. The question must be answered by national action. He moved that the Executive Commission of Agriculture be asked to devote itself to the problem. The motion was agreed to.