THE BACON INDUSTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7026, 14 January 1910, Page 3

THE BACON INDUSTRY

REFORM DEMANDED. A BUSINESS OF GREAT POSSIBILITIES. ' It is very much to he regretted that the bacon industry is on such an unsatisfactory footing at the present time, and .the pity ;of. it is that much of the dissatisfaction is due to U want of understanding of the true position. Pig production"' in/'New Zealand is eminently a subject which demands a thorough investigation, and the full facts of every phase of it placed before producers. There is a-great future, before it, but not if producers start out with wrong corceptions as to the possibilities. Prices Ure declared to be unsatisfactory, but even now they are higher than the prodvcers in other countries are content with. Reform is demanded ini the direction of lessening: losses 'from " disease, breeding early maturing stock, and generally reducing cost'' of production, not so much by decreasing the < food supply as by increasing it—feeding to the best advantage, and thereby turning off more and better animals. There never was a time when better prospects were offering of initiating an export trado. Pig-f are scarce in almost every country in the Northern Hemisphere. It is declared that the shortage is fully 20 per J cent, in the United States, and while all other meat ia cheap in Britain, pork alouo is dear. Such good prices are ruling in. England now that proposals are on foot to establish factories on the Continental system. It is being pointed .out that Homo producers must breed 'pigs with more lean meat and a lighter forequarter. AU this means, of course, that an impetus will bo given to bacon production at Home, but with improved methods the consumption will exnand. In this country it is especially important that the best typo of animal must be bred and fattened in the approved 6tyle. for quality, alone will build up a pro-

fitablo trade on outside markets, ana at tho same time extend the consumption of the product in' the Dominion.