PIG BREEDERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 26 June 1926, Page 4

PIG BREEDERS

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING Mr N. P: Nielsen presided over an attendance- of approximately 23 members at the annual general meeting ol the New Zealand Pig Breeders' Association held in Ihe Breeders' Club on the Palmcraton North Showground, says the Standard. The annual report and balance-sheet (previously published in the Standard) were read and oenfirmed. The chairman remarked that the report showed that successful progress had been made. lie expressed the opinion that the pig industry was merely in its infancy as yet, and by combined effort the importance of such a body as fheirs was certain to expand in time to conic. During the discussion which followed prior to the adoption of the statement, tlte chairman, in answer to a question, said that the shipment of pigs, which at a previous meetiug it had been authorised to procure, could not yet be brought from England because of the prevalence of foot and mouth disease. These Berkshire pigs when landed would be probably auctioned to the highest bidder, as ha resolution had been made in regard to distribution. 'The fallowing- (officers wiere elected for the ensuing year: —President, Mr N. P. Nielsen '(Tiakitahuna); vicc--1 residens, Messrs J. G. Sheppard (Levin) and S. Knight (Ougarue). Messrs N. P. Nielsen, J. McFarland (Aorangi) and J. A. Russell (Palmerston North) were elected members of the council and Mr E. J. Wackr.Ml was re-elected auditor. Mr L. J. Wild (Feilding) moved the following recommendation: "That the council consider the advisability of a reduction in the registration and transfer fees at the first favourable opportunity." Mr'J. H. Barnard (Christchurch) in seconding the motion stated that in the South Island the breeders were blocked from joining the association by reason of the exorbitant amount of the annual subscription. If men desired to enroll, the fee charged for the registration of pigs made them reluctant, and as the association was now a strong organisation, and wanted to encourage the smaller men to join, it could afford a reduction and raise the ban which . was undoubtedly influencing the admission of new members. Seeing that.the meetnig intended conveying the expression he moved an additional clause for insertion : 'That the entrance fee bo eliminated."

The secretary, Mr T. F. Fitzgerald (Feilding) stated that an entrance fee had always been charged and that the iegistratio-1 fee was increased to cover the cost of the herd book. He added that a suggestion was going forward to the new council in regard to the surplus funds, which it was proposed to use in assisting breeders to procure purebred stock by a method of granting loans. By acting in this manner it was thought that the acquiring of new stock would receive a, general uplift. After considerable discussion the- original mation as advanced by Mr Wild was agreed to. In declaring the election of the council the secretary congratulated the successful candidates, Messrs Nielsen, McFarland and Russell and referred to the services i-endered to the pig industry by these gentlemen. Thte : chairman in frctujrning thanks for the honour conferred upon him as re-t'lected president, stated that when the ballot papers had been sent out, a lcsolution that had been adopted at a previous meeting was. overlooked. This particular resolution made the president an ex-officio member to the council for three years after-his retirement. His name thus being brought forward had obstructed another member being elected and he urged the council to tain advantage of the resolution to elect a further representative to the controlling executive. The association should have a Waikato representative and ho would like to see Mr F. Descombe appointed as he was the fourth man in tho ballot. Mr Descombe, however, said that as the mistake had not been discovered until too late, tiie better action would bo to carry on as at present for the .ensuing year. This was agreed to. A committee consisting of the president, secretary, Messrs J. McFarland and Wild was set up to revise the rules of the association.