EXPORT PORK SUBSIDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19838, 7 January 1928, Page 10

EXPORT PORK SUBSIDY.

PRINCIPLE HARD TO DEFEND.

WHEAT AND FRUIT PRECEDENTS. CONFERENCE TO BE HELD. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DARGAVILLE, Friday. Reference to the proposed subsidy on export pork was made by the Prime Minister in addressing the settlers at Turivriri and Buawai. * Mr. Coates said that, three or four years ago, it was seen that there was a future for the pig industry of the Dominion. From inquiries made while in England, he had found that New Zealand bacon and pork were the best imported into Britain. They were delighted with the Dominion's products. Our climate would enable us to produce pigs at such a price that we could compete with Denmark. The Danish export of pigs was in excess of that of butter. It it was possible to increase the export of pork from New Zealand to even one-half that of butter what a help it would be to farmers-

A subsidy of £30,000 would not do everything. Although it might be hard to defend the principle, they had by assiting the apple growers probably one million cases of apples for export this season. The wheat industry had been assisted and he had decided to stand behind the pig industry and help, if he could, to pull it out of its difficulty. Mr. Coates said a meeting would be held in Wellington of representatives of the Dairy Control Board, the Meat Producers' Board and the Pig Breeders' Association and the Government. Nothing had been decided as to how the subsidy would be applied. It might be used in reducing freights or paid at so much per carcase. It would be solely to" assist the export trade.