BACONER PIG TRADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22647, 8 February 1937, Page 5

BACONER PIG TRADE

NEW GRADING SCHEME

HIGHER STANDARD PROPOSED OPERATION NEXT SEASON It is likely that new standards of grading New Zealand baconer pigs will bo brought into operation, commencing with the 11)37-38 season. Under the scheme all baeoners exported from the Dominion will be graded more in conformity with tlie standards required by the trade at Home as to length of side and thickness of back fat. It is the intention that these measurements wiil gradually be placed on a still higher standard as educational work spreads.

The question of placing the New Zealand baconer trade in a better position from the Home trade point of view has been under investigation for some time by tho London manager of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board. It has been clearly demonstrated that there is a practically unanimous desire among tho trade for standardised grading.

Tlio matter is now under consideration by the Meat Board in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and it is the intention of tho board and tho department to consult experts and representatives of all interested parties. At the same time, it is also intended to take up the matter of introducing a standard cut and trim for sides and pork legs. Tho export of New Zealand pork has increased in a striking way in recent years. The growth of killings for export is indicated in the following table:—

The development in the trade has been aided by the special reduction in shipping freight rates secured by the Meat Board in its first freight contract with the shipping companies, and also by the assistance given the industry by the board in a number of other directiohs, notably, the annual grants to pig recording clubs to enable them to carry out educational work regarding pig management and research work. "When the grading of New Zealand pork for export was first introduced it was recognised that tlio standard would require to bo gradually tightened up, as the producers became educated to the class of carcase which was required by the trade. A great deal of valuable educational work has already been accomplished by the recording clubs, but much yet remains to bo done before Now Zealand can introduco such strict measurement standards, as, for example, those in force in such a country as Denmark, which has specialised in this trade for a long period of years.

NEW LEVELS FOR COPPER

ELECTROLYTIC OVER £6O INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION Following tlio recent reaction tho price of copper has again advanced and quotations for electrolytic have moved over £GO :i ton in London. This is the highest level since 1930, when the peak price of the metal was £B-1 6s a ton for electrolytic. Other metals have not recovered to the same extent from the recent setback, prices for lead and zinc remaining below tho highest levels registered in January, although they are substantially better than the lowest touched in that month. Tin has weakened and the latest spot quotation of £226 7s 6d is equal to the lowest price quoted in January, when tho highest quotation was £282 7s 6d a ton. Reference to the increasing world consumption of copper and to the reduction in stocks was made by Sir Edmund Davis, deputy-chairman of Rhodesian Anglo-American, Limited, at tho annual meeting in London recently. Consumption of copper, which was only 804,974 short tons in 1932, was at present apparently at the rate of about 1,750,000 short tons per annum, he said. That estimate was based on world consumption, which for the first 10 months of 1936 was a little over 1,460,000 tons. With the gradual reduction in stocks and the rise in Erice tho output of tho Northern Rhodesia copper mines was increasing and the estimated total output of tlio three mines at present producing should be over 200,000 short tons per annum.

HEMP AND TOW GRADINGS IN JANUARY Gradings of hemp for export at New Zealand ports during January amounted to 3036 bales, an increase of 3i57 bales, compared with January, 1936. The quantities graded at the respective ports were: —Auckland, 598 bales; Wellington, 1671 bales; Picton, 67 bales; Blenheim, 67 bales; Bluff, 633 bales. The grading classes compare as follows: —Good fair, 193 (28); nigh fair, 966 (885); low fair, 570 (1047); common, 683 (427); reject, 608 (325); condemned, 16 (7). Tow gradings for the month were 267 bales, a decrease of 221 bales, compared with January, 1936. Tho grading classes compare as follows: — First grade, 5 (6); second grade, 98 (108); third grade, 133 (371); condemned, 31 (3). No bales of stripper tow or stripper slips were graded.

THE COPRA MARKET BETTER FOR RECENT REACTION That copra is all tho better for the recent sliakcout is the opinion of London brokers, according to cabled reports received in Australia. Like most commodities the pace of tho recent advance made it over severe. Vulnerable positions built up have consequently not escaped tho effect of international uncertainties and other factors which have affected all commodities during tho past fornight. Though somo speculators were undoubtedly caught, tho opinion of sober traders is that tho market will be all the bettor for a healthy reaction. It now presents a firmer appearance. While forecasts for the future must necessarily bo affected by a number of extraneous political and economic factors, the present position of copra itself docs not seem to warrant further reactions. Tho market can bo best doscribod as firmer with the prospect of a hardening tendency during tho next two months.

WHOLESALE EGG PRICES Wholesale eggs prices as announced by the Auckland Egg Marketing Committee are unchanged. Quotations aro as follows:—Hen: First grade, Is 10Jd per dozen; B grade, Is BJd; C grade, Is Ojd. Duck: First grade. Is BJd; B grade, Is 7Jd; C grade, Is o]d. Country storekeepers' buying prices for firstgrade eggs are:—-Hon, Is 5d per dozon; duck, Is 3id»

Porkers Baconers Season Carcases Carcases 3025-20 . 28,810 21,181 3 «••_?« i-27 . 4 5,1 17 20,180 1027-28 . 118,551 20,050 1028-20 . 115,000 43,301 1020-30 . . 01,101 30,187 1030-31 V . 110.00J 22,308 11)31-32 . 330,520 22,357 1032-33 . 208,010 55,30-1 1033-31 . 3M.430 103,181 1031-35 . 430,075 "157,334 1035-30 . 450,871 210,000