THE PORK INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1930, Page 8

THE PORK INDUSTRY.

Fr&m time to time there have been attempts, more or less spasmodic, to put the pork industry upon stable foundations with the hope of a wide development. With the example of Denjnark before it, and with climatic conditions the best in the world for . swine hiisbandry, it seems strange that what should be almost as important a branch of dairying as the manufacture of butter and cheese should have made such slow progress in New Zealand. It is admitted that pig farming needs a fair amount of labour, and that in addition to skim milk or whey other foods are essential for fattening purposes. Until quite recently all imported wheat byproducts have been subject to fairly heavy duties, and many stock foods, are still subject to a high tariff. This and other circumstances have meant that, in the North Island at all “events, it has been questionable whether the breeding and fattening of pigs was worth while. Markets have fluctuated considerably, one of the reasons being that there has been no properly organised attempt to supply the ki.id of carcase which the British consumer desires. This week a conference has been held of all interested in swine husbandry. Convened by the New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Association, it was attended by experts from the Department of Agriculture and Massey College, and received the assurance of the Minister of Agriculture that he would support its conclusions. Its principal finding was that the business needed a thorough, overhaul. As in the fat lamb trade, it is essential that London market requirements be met, and it is proposed to institute a system of grading by the Meat Producers’ Board to ensure that only the right sort of carcase shall be exported. Payment will be in accordance with grade, and this should stimulate better attention and feeding, as well as the right choice of breeding stock. It is obvious that unless the latter point is insisted upon the chance of developing an export trade is not good, but with careful selection of stock and proper feeding there seems to be no limit to the development of the industry. The conference appealed for the abolition of duties on stock foods, and it must be admitted a strong case was made for such an action. It trenches upon the debatable ground of politics, however, though its effect upon the economics of the pig industry is beyond question. The most hopeful characteristic of the conference is that the industry was urged to reform from within. It can rely upon the assistance of scientists and departmental experts, but, like the lamb industry, it must learn to be self-reliant if success is 'fb be assured. i