PORK RESTRICTIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18582, 17 December 1934, Page 8

PORK RESTRICTIONS

BRITISH IMP&fcTS

TREND TO BACONERS

Comment upon the announcement made by the Prime Minister regarding the export restrictions on pork for the first quarter of the New Year, was mada by Mr. W. A. Phillips, chairman ot directors of the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Pig Marketing Association, Limited. Mr. Phillips said that while the quota of 75,000 cwt. now fixed for pork to cover shipments from New Zealand during the period from November 15 this year to the middle of February next, or corresponding arrivals in the United Kingdom from January to March next year, was substantially deficient, of the estimated quantities available for the period, in the absence of definite ledge as to the British Government's intentions for the ; remaining nine months, viz., April to December, 1935, it, was impossible to say to what extent the industry would be affected by this development for the current year'. . It would, however, appear reasonable to suppose that the British Government; having arrived at tho present, quota on the basis of our average shipments, including baconers, for the period over the last three years, in all probability, would adhere to the same method when fixing the allocation for the succeeding nine months, or any extension of that period, and this could not be construed as 'inimical tq the • present and future position of the industry. . "Should- this eventuate," added Mr. Phillips, "it may be taken as tertain that the strong indication given by the Prime Minister of an independent and liberal quota for bacon pigs offers a, satisfactory immediate alternative to a probable reduction in our. porker exports, which, even on last year s figures \vere substantially above the average For the previous three, yeprs. The Prime Minister's it-marks on this aspect of the inatter were, therefore, most, reassuring, and sinco I have good reason to believe that the proposed quota for baconers will, with an adequate response from producers, provide the means of a compensating adjustment to reasonably offset the probable loss of pork tonnage, t sincerely hope that should this' prospect eventuate our dairy farmers will at once realise the vital importance, of carrying as many as. possible of,their pigs to bacon weights—i.e., Over 1501 b. —and thus assist the Meat Board and onr- Government to keeD faith with the British authorities. Having regard to the future, it would, in my opinion, be fatal to the ■■industry if we failed to. produce td the absolute limit the number 6f bacon-pig*? .provided for."