DOMINION PIG BREEDERS

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1930, Page 10

DOMINION PIG BREEDERS

THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD. MR. F. W. CORNWALL RE-ELECTED 1 ——■ | Keen interest in the future of the ; industry was rampant at the annual i meeting of the New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Association at Palmerston North on Wednesday evening, when Mr. J. A. Russell (Palmerston North) presided over a representative attendance. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. . In moving the adoption of the report Air. Russell referred to the fact that the past year’s expenditure had been fairly heavy owing to the .fact that the council had considered it/ necessary to stimulate the industry. The recent grading conference had been most successful and representative. Preliminary steps had already been taken to have the findings of the conference made operative but some further work in this direction would be required. Other progressive moves had been the reaching of finality on the question of registration of ear-marks, the visits paid by, the secretary to different shows, and the appointment of junior judges. Air. A. W. Green (Hamilton) was of the opinion that the association was not progressing as a breed society. Registrations were falling off, and he thought that if the council would concentrate on this aspect of the question the finance would right itself. He agreed that it was a good move to send the secretary to different shows, but he suggested that a better purpose might be served by sending him on to the farms to m®et the breeders themselves. If farmers were left to themselves they often would not register, but if they, were approached they would take the necessary steps. Air. H. G. Levy (Tauranga) considered that the registration fees were* too high; they might be reduced with advantage. -• Air. Bird (Wairarapa) thought both membership and registration fees -were too high. Air. J. W. AlcLinden (Alassey College) expressed the opinion that the falling away in registrations was due to the present period of depression. It was unfair to expect the secretary to go on to all the farms as this would entail too great an expenditure of time and money. If breeders were enthusiastic as they should be they could do .all that was necessary themselves. When better times obtained the association would make up what it had lost in registrations. Air. C. W. Anderson (Auckland) did not agree that the expenditure would be reduced to any extent. He considered that under the circumstances and in view of the amount of work that had been done, the council’s expenditure was very reasonable. The recent by-law brought into force empowering the secretary to refuse all applications for registration unless accompanied by fee, would, he thought, result in a diminish-; ing number of bad debts. Air. Anderson expressed his disappointment with the lack of support accorded by the branches. With the exception of the Manawatu-Oroua branch, which was doing splendid work, none of the branches earned the subsidy they ■ received from the parent body. The ballot for three members • to re-

place those retiring from the council resulted: Messrs. F. W. Cornwall (Taranaki), J. W. McLinden (Massey College) and W. P. Bickers (Feilding). Mr. Russell gave notice to move that the adoption of a ward system for the election of the council should be dis-' cussed.

Mr. Anderson was of the opinion that this change might mean a great deal to the association. At present five of the nine members of the council were located within an easy radius of Palmerston North, leaving four to represent the rest of New Zealand. The association was a national body, and the division of New Zealand into wards with each ward represented by<a stated number of delegates would contribute to the end desired. '■ ''■ ’ ■ - ■- ■■

After some further discussion, . Mr. Russell: proposed that the ward system be .adopted and the motion was carried with Mr. Wild dissenting. Another motion was carried as follows:— • .. •

“That this annual meeting associates itself with the representations made to the Ministry of Agriculture urging the withdrawal of duties on imported stock foods and concentrated feeding stuffs, it being felt that a great urge forward would be. given to the pig industry if cheaper foods were available. At a council meeting it was decided to allocate the Perrett Shield, to the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association for the 1930-31 season. It was decided that in lieu of making donations to the various A. and P. associations, the council should donate three 12gn. cups for competition at the Royal Show each year. The balance-sheet showed the revenue for the year to have been £832, a net loss of £285. Assets totalled £1147.