THE BACON INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4300, 8 March 1901, Page 3

THE BACON INDUSTRY.

.MILi.) CURIO WORKS AT WODD- '■ VILLSO. a uisui.no busixess. ‘ VALUABLE TIPS TO FARMERS. I Tho Directors of tJio Xorfcli Hand , Milil Guro_ Bacon Co., Ltd., admit ed a , very effective method ou Wednesday of _ -'lSordiug to (heir shareholder s ; ami some i prominent representatives of the genera! , public-an object lesson of what an-up-tc-dato institution of the kind is capable of effecting. Not only wore invitations issued broadcast to leading settlers and business men to pay a visit of inspection to the factory, but a lunch was provided which illustrated to the full the capabilities of the company in plating upon the market pig products of every shape and make. First of all the visitors were shown round the factory, and found it to bo fitted up with machinery and appliances of the most up-to-date pattern, not only ensuring expedition and cleanliness in the keeping, killing, slaughtering and handling of the pigs, hut also proving bibonr-savers of an extremely profitab < character. An exhibition of killing was made by tho staff, and this exposition of how things ought to he done was, confessedly, an eye-opener to many farmers, who, if. previously told that they did not know how to handle a jog, would probably have shown an inclination to knock the deponent down. Tho history of tho manner in which the Mild Cure Bacon Works were secured from Messrs Nelson Bros., who had originally erected them for freezing purposes, is a matter of local history. Up to tho present it lias not been generally

uown, however, that the industry has

1 I boon carried on at Wooded ie cm purely i ■ co-oporntivo principles, and so successfully n.s to make it tho ambition of the : directors to extend tho scope of its operations, and to convert Woodville—the ■ Cinderella of tho North Island ■ —into the “Chicago of New Zealand.” As Woodville is centrally situated, as 1 tho country room! about is admirably 1 adapted to dairy-farming and pig-rais-inir- and as tho milkfarmer is the man who is enquired for when dairy-fed park is in requisition, there is no reason why these ambitious should not be substantially realised. At the luncheon which followed tho inspection referred to Mr Carl Anderson (Chairman of Directors) gave a short sketch of the history of the North Island Mild Cure Bacon Company. Ho said about ono year and nine months ago it dawned on tho people of I’almerston North to form a Bacon Company.- At a hastily got-up meeting a few gentlemen clubbed together, drew up and formulated a prospectus, and had it printed by 12 o’c'ock the same night. Haste characterised their operations from the very first, for by sunset next afternoon they-had got 200 shareholders on their list. Simultaneously the I'eitding people, (is if by inspiration—(laughter)—also decided to form a . company, and the two vied one with the other to gob shareholders for their respective industries. Then the Christchurch Meat Company cams along with their Morepork Brand. They had the recipe, but the farmers of Woodville had tho pigs, and they knew it. So tho two joined toge- ' ther, and the outcome was the successful company whose premises their visitors had inspected that day. The mild cure was the best business the Manawatu had struck for many a year. The directors were sanguine enough to believe that their factory was going to bo ono of the biggest institutions in the North Island. Starting in a small way they had now over 500 shareholders. In February of last year they put through between two and three hundred pigs, but during the month just past close upon eight hundred pigs were passed through Tho works. By pursuing a careful and economical policy, also, and by securing the latest labour-saving appliances, they had been able to considerably economise their expenditure on such items as fuel, even though their output wa-s much increased. They believed that they would bo able to show such » good result to shareholders next.„yoar as to induce a , considerable augmentation of their share ; list. It must not bo forgotten that they : were working on a purely co-operative i basis. They' wore in fact the first co- ; operative bacon company in tho Southern. Hemisphere. (Applause.) It was their duty to stick together, work together, hang together. Thusp and thus only, could the success of their efforts as farmers and business men bo assured.

Mr J. O’Meara, was entrusted with (he toast of “The Bacon Industry.” He said he felt confident that in a few years’ time tho ramifications of tho industry would spread throughout the length and breadth of the colony. As far as the products of the eompny were concerned, they were everywhere meeting with approbation. Both the staff ana tho machinery were also capable of meeting to the. full all the demands made upon thorn. Not only would tho works be a benefit to tho shareholders of the company, but as an object-lesson of what could be done in tho way of co-operation they were a benefit to the whole of tlio Colony. The directors, especially, deserved every praise for tho pluck and perseverance which they exhibited in establishing and equipping the works. So largely had tho industries of the oc’ony developed of recent years that our imports had increased in value from £9,759,846 in 1890 to £13,477,966 in 1900—a difference of no less than £3,718,120. He predicted 1 that this bacon factory, whoso successful inauguration they were that day celebrating, would expand ap.aco ami become an important factor amongst the industries of New Zealand. Ho advised every settler large or small to make application to the secretary for shares. It was their duty to do it. He. would like to see the .Government take a more important stand in connection with tho exportation of produce, fie would like to see a fleet of cargo steamers established so that

not only the Home and colonial markets, but foreign markets also might bo thrown open to tho producers pf this colony. He ' considered this would be a thousand times better than giving extra, aids or subsidies- to mail services. -Mr, Gilbert Anderson, (Managing Director of the Christcburoh Meat Co., Ltd.),' urged npdn ' those present the value of co-operation. There were a number of factories in the North Island competing at the present time for the same markets. This naturally led to a cutting of prices. As far as the Mild Cure Factory was concerned, however, they had always been able to find a profitable market. Sydney had been

(their principal outlet: a comparative!, pronibitive tariff having shut them ou of tho other Australian ports. Thci product was popular in New Soutl Wales, and not a single pound of then meat went to that colony which was noi sold to order. In feet, their orders were always well ahead of their stocks. However, they would soon have to face the question of federation. There was no doubt they wouid be shut out of Now South Wales. Where were they to find a market ‘i (Voices: “Join tho Commonwealth;”) They had, of course, England and the Capo, fiut there were strong competitors for those markets— America on the one side, and the Continent of Europe on the other. In those countries pig-growing was a higt art. This brought him to a question important to the pig-growers of this district. lie referred to tho necessity for “topping off” and bringing “finished” pigs to the factories. As a matter of fact they had a groat deal to contend with when they' first started operations at AVoodvillc, because of this very question. The majority of settlers, and oven some of the directors, had told him that he was aiming at too high a, standard. But it was a question of raising

up or levelling uown. If they levcllu down they would bo merely on an oque ® footing with their competitors, and the, • would not be able to assure to thei shareholders a better price than wa 0 being got by' any other producers in tie * North Island. The consequence of hi 1 attitude had boon a gradual improve ! ment all round, and he could assun J them that they had not handled pig: ‘ last year of similar quality to thosi 1 which his hearers had seen handled tfcai 1 day. If the farmers would only' give their pigs fair treatment they woulc 1 come to realise with the people .of Ohio i ago that “There's money in pork.” 1 -M. F. Guy (Palmerston North) proposed “The Dairy Industry, first cousin of the Bacon Industry.” Ho said that whereas 1 the dairy export in 1890 only amounted to about £207,687, it had nowreached close upon £1,000,000, the bulk of which wont in the payment of labour. Denmark annually exported to Great Britain £10,000,000 worth of butter, and there was no reason why New Zealand should not in a, very' few years equal this output. The* Forty Mile Bush, with its mild climate—duo to the absence of snowy ranges from its vicinity—was better adapted for dairying' than even Taranaki, and there was no reason why that industry, side by side with, the one whoso success they wore celebrating that day, should not continue to flourish and expand in that well-favoured locality. Mr J. Young (manager of the Dairy "Union) in responding, uttered a note of warning. Ho said'the farmers Were undoubtedly having a bad time at present, but this should not make them careless. They should not be satisfied until their product was being quoted at an equal price with best Danish in the open market. Until that time arrived they would not be safe in case any thing happened to lower prices. Inspection began at the right end in Denmark, but it began at the wrong end with us. Although he- was against undue State interference he was convinced that unless tho farmers were prepared to consider some proposal for the inspection of their milking places, the Government would have to step in and insist on periodical inspections being made by' its departmental officers; They must have purer milk if they wanted better butter. Some of our farmers did not appear to realise that. iifM 1 " -A... W. Hogir, M.H.R., proposed The Pig Industry” in a humorous speech.

Mr Cari Anderson (Chairman of Directors) said it was with a certain amount of regret that he was obliged' to admit that of all our industries none was carried on in so haphazard a manner as the pig industry., (“NoI”) Ho challenged anyone to visit 'IOO pigstyes in that district, and find five that would find favour with them if they went in a critical spirit. He was glad to see that there were some, farmers who had taken to growing pigs on right linos. These men realised, with the Irishman, that “here was the gintleman ,to. help them pay the rint.” (Laughter and applause.) Some of our fanners had apparently been under the impression for years that the dirtier you kept your pigs the better they were. (Cries of “No !”) He did not think they believed that now. (Applause.) But still there was an idea among pig farmers that aid not exist in connection with any other industry, and that was that a pig should be all profit, and no such thing as cost about it. They did not like to feed pigs on meal because it cost money. They preferred to give them that stuff which otherwise would be a nuisance about the place. (Laughter.) If he would not eat it he could go without—(laughter—and then, they expected a higher profit from the pig than any other animal on the farm. Last yeiar he had fattened close on 240 pigs and they paid him letter than anything else. Three bushels of meaf had gone to eachpig. The grain had cost him about 2s per bushel, but it had returned him about ,3s, and a net profit of about 33 per cent. He did not think ho could have put that grain to better use. Pig breeders in tho North Island had everything in their favour in regard to climate. If they could realise wbat he had had to do in the way of raising and fattening pigs in Northern Europe they would not mind taking a little trouble hem But no, people here wanted to take life easv, and rest on their oars. In feeding pigs they wanted a clean sty and plenty pf roots, and a steamer to steam the roots and grain. In this way it was possible to make a small piece of land very profitable—especially if you had a connection with the North Island Mild Cure Bacon Company. (Laughter.) He believed a badly bred and well fed pig was better than a well-bred, half-starved pig —(laughter)—but a well-bred, well-fed-pig was superior to both. (Applause.) As to shape : what they wanted was a long, deep pig, with-a thin, light shoulder. If they could get pigs with no shoulders at all it would be so much .the better. Depth and thickness of flank was another essential. The grocer would not buy a pig with a heavy shoulder and a j small flank. They could not do better | than cross their Berkshires .and York- | shires with Tamworths. He believed that | was the only way to get the desired pig. They could not waste food on a pig. If a pig was healthy, the more food vou gave him the more he would grow. What they wanted was a pig that would sell in the open market, so that in tho same manner as they had created a name in England for “nrime Canterbury” mutton, so thewould make a name for North Island bacon and hams. They must appeal, therefore, to the farmers to help them to achieve success. No pig should be more than eight months old when he reached the factory. If he were more than that the product would he a failure. He might ho well grown and well got up, but the .flavour could not bo got out of a pig that was badly bred and badly fed. (Api planse.)

Mr George Hall proposed, “Commerce and Trade.”

Mr M. .Cohen (Palmerston North), in responding, said “the‘pig was a good allround man/’ When on a world tour recently, he had inspected the works of the Armours in Chicago. _ They had retoroduced here in "Wdodville on a miniature scale all the best methods which he had seen at Armour’s, The hams and small goods turned out of this factory were eagerly sought after by those who were responsible for “Commerce and Trade.’’ He honed the verdict of the public would be: “Tlie more pork we eat, the more pork wd want.” ’• 1:5 Bolton proposed the toast c* "Our Guests,” Messrs Baillie and J. God-

ber (Wellington) responding. The latter said when he was in England recently bo bad not eaten a piece of bam to ccme up to the ‘‘Moiepork” and he did not forget to tell them so.” .fir J. R. Hodder proposed the toast of ‘"Pile Press,” which was responded to by representatives ef the “Manawatu Times” and the '‘New Zealand Times.’ ’ The other toasts honoured wore ‘'The Railway Department” and “The Staff.’’