PIG CLUB MOVEMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19585, 17 March 1938, Page 16

PIG CLUB MOVEMENT

DIVISION OF DISTRICT BAY OF PLENTY OPINION MORE CLUBS FORMED (Special to the Herald.) WHAKATANE, this day. With the cessation of seasonal activities on the part of the farming community in the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua areas, greater interest in the national pig club movement has manifested itself. The spread of the movement here is awakening a desire on the part of the farmer producers in this portion of the Bay of Plenty-Poverty Bay area to seek a division of the district as it stands at present. “There is ample room for the l'ormatic.i of more clubs in the Poverty Bay area,” stated the district supervisor, Mr. D. G. Beattie, to-day, "and i am working under pressure to endeavour to meet the wishes of those desirous of joining or forming pig clubs. In some localities I have held as many as four meetings in one day, and certainly never less than two. Every meeting held does not necessarily mean the formation of a club, but it will help in that direction eventually.”

The annual meeting of the district council which takes place early in April in Whakatane, bids fair to be a big affair, as each club will send a delegate. Proxies are not permissible and it is hoped that Poverty Bay will send a full quota. This matter probably will be attended to by the Poverty Bay sub-council, of which Mr. H. D. Chrisp, Patutahi, is chairman, and Mr. G. H. Sceats, secretary.

Progress in Rotorua

Mr. Beattie has been engaged recently in completing the formation of pig clubs in and around Rotorua, and where it was previously estimated that three clubs would be possible, no less than nine clubs have been formed, with two others yet to be arranged for, these latter being at Murupaia, in the Galatea district, and Reporoa, in the Taupo area.

In and around the immediate vicinity of Rotorua, three clubs have been formed, and at Ngongotaha a very strong club favouring the Large Black is now operative.

Galatea, which is to all intents and purposes a new settlement, is also in hearty support of the national movement. The club there favours the Tamworth breed. Murupara, across the river from Galatea,, also proposes to form a club, the organisation of which awaits a suitable opportunity. Recently-Settled Areas

Broadlands settlement also is a recently-settled' area, and here a club has been formed, the selection of breed being left until another meeting. The Reporoa club has yet to be finalised. Due to the absence of some of the leading settlers it was considered advisable to postpone the appointment of the club executive and officials.

The pumice lands of the Rotorua district bid fair to at least equalise the production of more highly favoured districts in the matter not only of the production of butterfat, but also of pork and bacon meats. Excellent Crops Excellent crops of roots such as carrots, and swede are very much in evidence, and in some parts kumikumis and marrows are to be seen. All these crops are excellent for the winter feeding of pigs, and it is the intention of the growers to produce more and yet more pigs. All the meetings have been well attended, and in the case of the young farmers club meetings lantern lectures of an interesting and instructive nature have been given by Mr. H. M. Peirson, extension officer in swine husbandry, Department of Agriculture, Hamilton.

Organisation work is now being carried on in the Opata, Katikati, Aongotata, Amokoroa, and Taurange districts.