PORKERS OR BACONERS?

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22046, 28 February 1935, Page 4

PORKERS OR BACONERS?

CHEAP GRAIN NECESSARY " Tlie high cost of bringing porkers to the baconer stage is causing considerable concern to those engaged "in the pig industry," said Mr. H. I). Caro, of Hamilton, in an interview with The Weekly News Waikato correspondent. Mr. Caro conducts a model piggery at Te Rapa and specialises in the production of baconers. He pointed out that the Hon. C. E. Macmillnn, Minister of Agriculture, in a recent speech at Matamata, urged producers to prepare as many baconers for export this season as possible, as future, quotas would be based on the returns for this year. Mr. Caro claimed that the Government made it impossible to adopt this advice owing to the high duties imposed on imported grain. " The following," said Mr. Caro, were the prices of grain delivered in Hamilton:— Pollard, £8 5s a ton; maize 4s 6d a bushel; bran, £7 los a ton; barley, 4s 3d a bushel. As it was absolutely necessary grain should be used to fatten baconers, and as 41 b of grain was required to produce lib of bacon, it coy'.d be seen that the cost of production exceeded the realisable value or bacon at 6d per lb. The season ends in November next, and Mr. Caro contended .that the Government should lift the import duties on grain to encourage the bacon industry. Mr. Caro said Australian pig producers could purchase grain suitable for pig fodder at Is Sd per bushel, and he had it on reliable authority that the Australians were only waiting for the New Zealand bacon production to break down in order to claim the New Zealand producers' share of the English market. Ho viewed the position as being very serious and calling for urgent action.