PRODUCTION OF PORK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19555, 10 February 1938, Page 17

PRODUCTION OF PORK

DPv. HAMMOND'S ADVICf

PRACTICABILITY QUESTIONED

The practicability of giving effect to Dr. Hammond's advice regarding New Zealand's possibilities for pork produel ion is questioned by Mr. W. A. Phillips, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association. Limited.

"One cannot but draw the inference," said Mr. Phillips, "that in Dr. Hammond's opinion we should produce more pork and less bacon. This advice from a technical view-point would be helpful if it were not for fiie marketing considerations winch render it impractical." ■•The whole of any increase that takes place in our production has to he marketed oversea::. Only a few years ago we were exporting about

5500 tons of pork, and only 1500 tons ot baconers. At present the figures are 13,000 tons and between 17,000 and 18,000 tons respectively."

"In June of last year, when discussing the grading issue at a public meeting in Hamilton, the Director of Agriculture, Mr. A. 11. Cockayne, stated, inter alia, that so far as pork is concerned the export to Great Britain has distinct limitations, and I do not consider that the tonnage readily saleable to Great Britain at profitable prices is likely to exceed from 15,000 to 20,000 tons at the outside, since her present total imports of frozen pork would not exceed 50,000 tons.

"The position, however, regarding baconers is different. Great Britain at present imports about 500,000 tons of bacon, mainly from foreign countries, and if we supply a suitable quality there is no reason why New Zealand should not develop a market in Britain for 100,000 tons withoi' f difficulty .and the treatment aifordeci

us by Great Britain indicates that she would appreciate a development in that direction. At no time has Britain suggested a quota so far as baconers are concerned. The position with pork, however, is different. In which connection we have had a very clear and definite indication that expansion in this direction is not favoured.

"From this official statement,'' said Mr. Phillips, "it is clear that the British Government, while indicating practically unlimited freedom in the expansion of our baconer exports, her intimations in the case of pork have been in the reverse direction. The statement of these facts. I think, is desirable, since without them, Dr. Hammond's remarks might inadvertently create a false impression which may be detrimental to the success of the campaign which lias been launched over recent months for increased baconer production and an improved type of carcase."