PIG PRODUCTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 23 June 1943, Page 2

PIG PRODUCTION

MINISTER’S REFUTATION OF STATEMENT “NO LACK OF INTEREST BY GOVERNMENT” DROP IN KILLINGS (Special to “The Mail”) Palmerston North, This Day. “The Government has in no way shown a lack of interest or indifference to the welfare of the pig industry,” said the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, at the National Dairy Association’s Conference at Palmerston North. “Every effort has been made to ensure that conditions were made as favourable as possible under present circumstances to encourage p»g production.” Mr Barclay refuted the statement made in the annual report of the National Dairy Association which, in giving certain figures showing a drop in killings, accused the Government of lack of interest and indifference to the welfare of this aspect of the dairy industry. The Minister pointed out that these figures did not tell the whole story. For instance, the figures given dealt only with killings for export, and in view of the demands of the Allied Forces in the Pacific for pork and bacon, killings of pigs for export have dropped to a purely nominal figure. The actual total of all killings of pigs for the four months, October, 1942, to January, 1943, were 298,000 as against 346,000 for the same period in the previous year. This was a decrease of 14 per cent., but in view of the extensive change-over from butter to cheese last season, with the consequent need of rebuilding herds, this decrease is understandable. The payment last season of lsd a lb butterfat to compensate producers for changing back to butter was partly made in recognition of the fact that income from pig production had fallen in respect of these suppliers. PRICES NOW GUARANTEED “Upon the introduction of the Government’s economic stabilisation policy, one of my first tasks was to ensure that the pig producer received the just prices he was entitled to on the basis of the actual payments received in the preceding 12 months, during which year he secured considerable benefit from the intense competition which took place to secure supplies, because of the rapidly expanding demand for pig products in the Pacific area. Regulations have now been issued backed by a Government purchase, which guarantees these prices to the pig producer. “I am satisfied on examination of the evidence that these prices are fair, and compared with the prices ruling at the commencement of the war, are extremely favourable. I do not think for a moment that the granting of a high price to pig producers would substantially increase production, because there are other factors quite apart from price which have a definite determining influence. “To the extent possible under the difficult circumstances now prevailing, every effort has been made to secure increased supplies of suitable feed, and at reduced prices compared with those offering last year. To ensure that the pig producer secures a fair price for his product, that increased supplies of feed are made available and at lower prices, is as much as any Government can do or should be expected to do at the present time. lam fully aware that in the past the changing requirements of the United Kingdom have caused disorganisation and discouragement to pig producers, but the position is now relatively stable and there is a strong/-demand for pork ana bacon supplies to meet requirements in the Pacific area. The Government feels that it can justifiably call upon pig producers to do their utmost in the coming year, and I am sure that this appeal will not go unheeded.”