PIG BREEDERS’ CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3510, 21 June 1921, Page 12

PIG BREEDERS’ CONFERENCE.

The annual meeting cf the New Zealand Pig-breeders’ Association was held at Hamilton early in the month, Mr A. W. Green, manager of the Ruakura Farm, presiding. It, was decided to ask the Government to reduce the railway freight on pedigree pigs to ordinary rates. The annual report stated that members should be highly gratified to note the continued progress and steady advancement made by the ass< elation. Tire efforts of the founders cf the association to institute

systematic pig-breeding and management and to maintain the purity and improve the standard of the various breeds of pigs was now fully recognised. T his was made evident from the fact that 73 new members had joined the association during the past 12 months, making a total membership of 165.

Owing to the failing health of Mr John Linton, secretary of the association, it had been found necessary to appoint a new secretary, and Mr T. F. Fitzgerald, of Feilding, had been appointed. The officers and members expressed their appreciation of the valuable and efficient services rendered to this association by the retiring secretary. Mr John Linton had held this position right from the commencement, and much of the success of the association was due to the efforts of this officer. Tire election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr A. W. Green (Ruakura); vice-president, Mr N. P. Nielsen (TiakilaVnma), treasurer, Mr Jas. A 1 I arland (Feilding), auditor, Mr E. J. Wackrill. Mr Chili ott, stated that the secretary of the Berkshire Association in England had written him to the effect that his association would not send any more pedigree pigs to New Zealand until the Government restrictions were removed. ’JShe New Zealand restrictions were the most severe in the world. One stated that the whole of England would have to be free of disease. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. A Wellington Press Association message states ihat at the Council of Education Mr W. A. Banks, speaking from the producers’ point of view, said we had a bad time ahead. There were certain kinds of meat which were not worth sending Home. It would be better to buy it. Mr R. M‘Callum : The same with the wool. Mr Banks said that whereas we had been receiving about 2s 6d for our butter, we would probably get about Is 8d in the near future. The proposal to establish a dairy factory at Cromwell at the former site of the Canning Works has been enthusiastically taken up (wires our Cromwell correspondent). A meeting of provisional directors on Saturday decided to proceed at once to the converting of the works to dairying. A staff is now busy at this work, and the works will likely be in full swing in the first week of October. The new’ industry will be a great factor in the progress of the district. Mr A. Morton, president of the National Dairy Association, estimates the value of the dairy industry of New Zealand at £20,000,009 per annum. The Pallia Dairy Factory closed a week ago, after a very prosperous season. '1 he output was in the vicinity of 90 tons against 57 tons last season. The directors are contemplating installing a separating plant for next season. The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. \V. Nos worthy) lias informed the Farmers’ Union that he is having immediate inquiries made to ascertain whether a disease is prevalent in the Australian onion-growing districts. lie promised, if the circumstances warrant it, to prohibit the importation of Australian onions. Volume seven of the Year Book, 1920, of the New Zealand .Friesan Association is a most useful compilat.or, giving as it, does a complete record of the preformances of Friesan c.ows up to 31st December. 1920. The conditions of testing and particulars in connection with sires are also given. In respect to the former, it is gratifying to note that much more interest is taken in testing, and compared with the previous year nearly double the number of animals have challenged inquiry. The price of wheat iri Chicago on June 2 for July delivery rose with a bound to 137-g cents, of nine cents above the previous closing rate. This sharp advance was caused by the authoritative estimate that fhe new winter cron has shrunk by between 1291, COO,OOO and 53.000.000 bushels, owing to abnormal weather. Exporters and millers are greatly concerned over the curtailment of the yield. The acute feeling that exist? amongst farmers over threshing rates, and the nonreprosentation of the farming community in owners and their hands, between (lie mill owners and tliir hands, was vow apparent in a discussion at the Farmers’ Uri’' ll cop. ferpnee in Canterbury recently. Tin result of the debate was that Mr G. f-heat. on behalf of the Threshing Machine Owners’ Union, agreed that, this executive would confer with the executive of the Farmers’ Union before meeting the workers’ representative at tho beginning of August. Mr David Archibald, of Overshields, has sold his well-known Border Leicester flock to the trustees of the late Mr D. D. Macfarianc, Lyndon, North Canterbury.