MARKETING OF PIGS

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1930, Page 12

MARKETING OF PIGS

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION. PROSPECTS FOR NEW SEASON. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association, Limited, was held in Hamilton on Tuesday, Mr. S. H. Judd presiding. Mr. Judd said that the number of pigs handled, 37,586, was very satisfactory. After allowing for the .number marketed previously for other associations in the north, this total represented an increase over the figures for the previous year of about 2500, in-spite pf the fact that there were actually 13 per cent, fewer pigs in the Dominion. Of the numbers handled about 9500 were sold on the local market, 28,000 exported and 792 were condemned. The quality of the produce showed an improvement on the whole and the fishy taint complained of last year had been almost entirely eliminated. The marketing of produce had been very much more difficult than in the previous year, owing to the fluctuation in values in the United Kingdom and also to the fact that supplies at the end of the season were abnormally large. During the last three weeks the Home market liad hardened appreciably and the directors had good reason to believe that the improvement would continue. Final realisations had been made up to the end of November, continued Mr. Judd, and the figures had in all cases equalled scales values and in many cases had exceeded them. The final payments, on the December and .Januapy,

would bring up the values to the following, amounts: —Primp porkers, Decern< ber, Cjd.; January, s£d'.; prim® baconers, s|d.; January price not yet finalised; heavy baconers, 4gd., January price, not yet finalised; choppers, 3Jd., 3i<L The values ruling this season were likely to be on a lower level than of last year, but should not fall below a remunerative point. . Mr. J. E. Leeson said the only way in which farmers could obtain the maximum prices for their produce was by selling it under a co-operative system. He had been assured by a high authority, in the Smithfield market that if New Zealand exported sufficient pigs the product would become as famous as Canterbury lamb on the Home market.