FISHINESS IN PORK

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1929, Page 6

FISHINESS IN PORK

FARMERS’ UNIOX DISOUSSIO'X.

In the opinion of Mr. C. D. Dickie, a member of the South laranaki provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union and chairman of the Patea Farmers’ Freezing Co., Ltd., the pork subsidy Hvcn by the Government has always been wrongly based. At a meeting of the executive yesterday he declared that the subsidy should have been founded on a guaranteed minimum price of 6d a lb. * The meeting was discussing the Government’s decision to discontinue the pork subsidy, and Mr. Dickie said farmers had a real grouch in that the subsidy of £25,000 had been placed on the estimates and another £5OOO on the supplementary estimates. Farmers had received no intimation that the subsidy was to be discontinued until the session and to none had he received a satisfactory reply. A short discussion ensued on the “fishiness” of New Zealand pork. It was stated that a South Island farmer had fed his pigs on red clover, cured them himself, and had always noticed a fishy flavour in the pork. In England, said Mr. Dickie, the people were not complaining about the pork at all, but it was when the pork was made into bacon that.the objectionable flavour was evident. Mr. W. E. Carter: If the pork exported from New Zealand compares favourably with any other pork then with, a properly balanced food ration New Zealand should surpass all others in quality. There was no doubt that the feeding question had a lot to do with the flavour, said Mr. Dickie. Many pigs in Taranaki were fed on whey, and some just passed ‘/muster” for export purposes. Typo was also a matter that might be looked into. Smithfield market favoured the Tamworth-Berkshire cross (Berkshire boar —Tamworth sow), provided the pigs showed the length of the Tarnworths and the characteristics of :■ the Berkshire. On'the other hand America favoured the Duroc —Jersey breed, which had recently been introduced into the Dominion.

BUTLER AUTO SWEEP.

DEMONSTRATION AT MATAPU..

A demonstration of the Butler auto sweep was given under the auspices of Messrs. Newton King, Ltd., on Mr. Leo Preece’s farm at Matapu on Wednesday afternoon. The weather was not of the best but did not prevent a large number of interested farmers from being present. The sweep, which is designed for use with either' car or truck, did splendid work in the field of oats being cut for ensilage. The sweep is the invention of Mr. L. Butler, Inglewood. It will go a long way towards simplifying ensilage and hay-making. A demonstration was also given of the mower attachment invented by Mr. Robertson, Matapu. This attachment, which entirely overcomes the trouble caused by fallen crops, is unique and will prove indispensable to all farmers.

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Votes of sympathy with the relatives of the late Mr. George Syme, Mr. J. Craig, Lt.-Col. T. C. Sutherland, Mr. K. A. Uttinger and Mr. Polson, senr., were passed at yesterday’s meeting of the South Taranaki provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union. The Women’s Division branch extended expressions of sympathy to the relatives of Lt. Col. Sutherland, Mrs. J. J. Patterson, Mr. James Craig and Mr. K. A. Uttinger.

Sergeant J. Henry, who has been on annual leave, resumed his duties at Hawera yesterday. During his absence Sergeant T. I. McGregor, New Plymouth, acted as relieving sergeant. The funeral of Mrs. H. McKay, "which took place at Palmerston North on Wednesday, was largely attended by residents of the district and “old-timers from the west coast. The burial service was read .by Father Herlihy and the pall-bearers were her six sons, Messrs. Joe (Mokoia), Jack (Normanby), H. (Fraser Road), Edward and Hugh (Hawke’s Bay). Mrs. McKay, who was a daughter of Mrs. Haylock, one of the west coast pioneers, resided for some time at Hawera and Stratford.

GENERAL ITEMS.

The monthly meeting of the Hawera branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union was postponed yesterday afternoon until next Thursday in respect for relatives of prominent members of the union who had recently died. The president (Mrs. W. E. Carter) mentioned that of five calls during the past month for housekeepers, four had been filled. In addition four women had been added to the list of those available as housekeepers.

Alleging desertion and failure to maintain, the wife of Lawrence Lewis, Martinborough, was granted separation, maintenance and guardianship orders .by Air. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Hawera Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The complainant, who was represented by Air. P. O’Dea, was also granted a maintenance payment of 30s weekly towards the support of herself and child. Pleading guilty to charges of drunkenness and of having accompanied Robert James Florida Lowe (known also as Zadoni), whom he knew to be a prohibited person, into the Dominion Hotel on November 15, Lars Christoffersen appeared before Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Hawera yesterday. ’As a first offender.he was convicted and discharged on the drunkenness charge and fined IDs and costs on the other charge.

The residents of Auroa are invited to attend a euchre party and dance this evening as a benefit to little Eric Brown who is in hospital. The object is to raise funds for a Christmas gift. An instrumental recital by pupils of Mr. and Mrs. Antoni Bonetti is to be given at the Manaia town hall this evening. Forty-five instrumentalists will b/heard in combination. In addition 12 stringed instruments will be heard special numbers and numerous fl tettes, trios and solos will be A special feature will be the of the Painted Doll” an illustrated son number by several Tll6 gramme should provide ° f such as has not been heard m Manaia be fore, and a large- audience is anticipated of water-colour paintings has been arranged Hawera by Lucretia Johnson (Airs, Vigens;,

came to Auckland about three years ago. She is an exhibitor at the Royal Academy (London), the Paris Salon, the British Water Colour Society, the Royal Society of Women Artists and the Walker Art Gallery. ‘ The collection is of landscapes and garden stenes painted in many parts of New Zealand. The exhibition will be open to-morrow from 10 a.m. until 8.30 p.m., and will probably be Mrs. Vigers’ only exhibition in Hawera.

The pupils of Miss Nancy Kent will present “The Sleeping Beauty” at St. Joseph’s hall, Hawera, this evening, is always a delight to see the performance of children with their dainty movements and fascinating mannerisms and “The .Sleeping Beauty” promises an unusually good performance of its kind. Members of the Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles, Ist Battalion Taranaki Regiment and senior cadets are requested to parade at the Manaia band rotunda at 1.30 p.m. to-day to attend the funeral of Lt.-Col. T. C. Sutherland. About a week ago a racing homing pigeon settled at the residence of Airs. W. H. McDonald, Glasgow Street, Hawera. The bird has a. tag on its leg ” A.B.P. 28-9908. A cheque for £lOO, representing the legacy given by the late Air. Joseph Wilson to the Hawera Beautifying Society, has been received by Mr. L. A. Taylor from the executors under Air. Wilson’s, will. Air. Taylor has forwarded the cheque to the town clerk, who will pay the money on the order of the society.