PORK EXPORT TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1928, Page 10

PORK EXPORT TRADE

INGLEWOOD COMPANY'S YEAR. REVIEW OF ITS OPERATIONS. The position of the pork export trade and interesting incidental information is contained in the annual report of tho Inglewood Bacon Curuig Company, which is as follows: — The directors have pleasure in recording that the operations of the past year have shown a very satisfactory result. The number of pigs received has again largely increased notwithstanding the fact that the dry summer and autumn must have had the effect of partially checking production. There has been a substantial increase in the number of new shareholders during the year, and the total of the year’s allottment of shares is the largest yet recorded. The market for export pigs has not materially improved, and although a good demand hag been maintained, prices have not been at a much higher level than during the previous year. The export branch of the industry has been assisted during the year by the granting of a Government subsidy of one halfpenny per lb. on all pigs exported from February 1 last. This subsidy has been passed on by the company to suppliers by way of addition to the price of pigs. The financial results of the year’s working has been quite satisfactory. In addition to the full market price having been paid throughout the year, a further payment sufficient to make the minimum price for both baconers and porkers 5Jd per lb. has been authorised. This further payment will bring the average price paid for all pigs received during the year to slightly over 6d per lb. The usual dividend of £9 per cent, on share capital is also'authorised. Full allowance for depreciation has also been made. The" retiring directors are Messrs B. L. Longstaff and J. B. Mabin, both eligible for re-election. Supplmcnting the annual report, the chairman of directors (Mr. Arthur Morton) states:—The balance-sheet of the company for the past year (ending August 31) has been issued to shareholders and the directors believe that it will be considered as being a satisfactory one and showing evidence of the largely increased business of the company. This increase has been brought about by the development of the export trade in frozen pork and this trade is capable of being largely increased with consequent benefit to the company and to the individual shareholders providing that it is conducted, on sound lines and the quality of the exported carcases is such as will meet with the approval of the purchasers in Great Britain. There is little doubt that the pigs sent from New Zealand are on the whole satisfactory but there are some points in connection with our export shipments which could probably be improved upon with benefit to both the producers and the British buyers. In regard to weights of porkers, there is no doubt that It would be better if we were able to restrict our maximum weight to 1001 b instead of the 1101 b as at present. The London manager of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board in a recent report says: “I notice quite a number of New Zealand porker carcases coming on to the Smithfield market weighing about 1101 b. These weights are quite unsuitable. We should either produce a pig from 60-1001 b, preferably 851 b average or else make them into baconers weighing say 1401 b. The weights in between these two ranges are quite useless for either purpose. This cannot be too strongly impressed upon the producers.” Although it may be considered to be a difficult matter for suppliers to estimate fairly accurately the weight of their pigs 'before delivery to the scales, it would be of great assistance to the company and with benefit to the suppliers if they were able to deliver pigs which were either below 1001 b or over 1101 b (dead weight). With regard to quality, this is a matter of even greater importance than that of weights. The British buyer has a strong objection to poor quality pigs and it should bo the endeavour of every supplier to deliver only pigs that have been well fed and are bi good quality The buyer also strongly objects.to any carcases which are at all bruised. As bruises are generally caused by rough handling within two or three days previous to the pig being killed every care should be taken to avoid this cause of complaint.

The export trade In frozen pork from New Zealand requires to be built up on careful sound lines and if this is done it can be made a good payable business for the producers and is capable of a very great extension. It is the desire of your directors that in so far as this company is concerned ,the quality of pigs exported may be of the very best and they hope to have the assistance of every supplier in bringing about this desired position.