PROBLEMS OF PIGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20977, 14 September 1931, Page 14

PROBLEMS OF PIGS.

NEED FOR ORGANISATION. PROPOSALS BY FARMERS. scheme; to be formulated. [FROM Olitt OWN C'OTtRESPON DENT. ] HAMILTON. Sunday. Problems facing the pig raising industry in New Zealand were discussed at n mooting of farmers and directors of dairy companies held in Hamilton under (lie auspices of the Waikato sub-provincial branch of the" Farmers' Union. 'lbe president of the branch, Mr. J. H. l'urniss, presided over a large attendance. In outlining the objects of the meeting Mr. F. C. Roberts (Tauwharc) said it was not intended that the Farmers Union should control and, finance a,, y scheme to rehabilitate the industry. It was, however, tho union's object to foster the movement to tlic utmost, and the speaker suggested the appointment of a representative committee to take a lead in the matter.

Mr. P. Hawke (Hinuera) emphasised (ha necessity for all farmers supporting (he New Zealand Pig Marketing Association, which in tho past had proved of great value in stabilising prices. As an instance of tho great economic waste which was taking place at present lie referred to the fact that 27 different brands of bacon were being sold on the Auckland market. 1 his was proof of flic uigcnt need for sumo scheme of control.

A suggestion that some of the dairy companies could do more to assist the association financially was made by Mr. J. Leeson (Morrinsville). Tho chief difficulty, he said, had been tho expense incurred in shipping the carcases to the Homo market, and as long as tho present high costs ruled it would be no easy matter to place tho industry on a sound footing. Mr. Roberts expressed the opinion that the Government should undertake the grading of all pigs on tho hooks. llns step would aoolish tho present uneconomic competition in sales over the scales. , Mr. S. A. Ferguson (Motumaoho) considered the association should he made self-supporting. Some basis should bo reached whereby dairy companies could take up shares and thus exercise a certain amount of control in tho industry. Dr. H. E. Annett (Matangi) said the pig industry in Denmark was worth £23,000,000 a year. Organised cm sound lines, tho production in the Dominion could grow to very large proportions. In his opinion it needed plenty of propaganda, combined with national action, and tho business could grow to tho value of between £20,000,000 and £30.000.000 annually. The production of pork in New Zealand was favoured by tho absence of foot and mouth disease, a menace which hampered all other producing countries. He expressed approval of Air. Ferguson's suggestion for increased support from the dairy companies. It' was finally decided to set up a committee consisting of Messrs. S. H. Judd, S. A. Ferguson. .1. H. Fumiss, Dynes Fulton, F. H. Anderson, P. Hawke and J. Leeson to go fully into tho matter and to formulate a definite scheme for submission at tho forthcoming annual meeting of the South Auckland Dairy Association.