PORK EXPORT TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1934, Page 6

PORK EXPORT TRADE.

The decision of the pig breeders and curers to seek Government grading of all pigs for local consumption as well as those for export is a step in the right direction. Including the GovernorGeneral, experts and traders are convinced that the Dominion has an opportunity of developing very considerably the frozen pork trade with Great Britain. But all of them agree that to do so there must be specialisation in the class of pig bred and in the preparation and grading of the carcases for the English market. Lord Bledisloe has given a practical demonstration of his desire to help forward better swine husbandry in the Dominion by presenting a trophy for the most suitable pigs grown for the London market, the judging to be done in New Zealand at any Royal Agricultural Show, and again in London when the carcases have been inspected there. They are then to be returned, to the Dominion and displayed as the standard type required by the United Kingdom. All of which is very educative, and His Excellency’s generosity will be much appreciated. It appears, however, that without compulsory grading the industry sees little hope of general standardisation of the carcases exported. It realises the necessity for meeting market requirements is greater than ever, for the British authorities are reviewing sources of supply and are prepared to exercise Empire preference if they can be assured of continuous and satisfactory supplies from the Dominions. Denmark and other foreign countries will not lose the position they have attained in the English markets without a struggle, and the teaching all along the line therefore is that swine husbandry is a complex undertaking requiring knowledge of technique, a certain amount of financial resource and a willingness to profit by the advice and assistance of distributors oversea, who are in immediate contact with the purchasing public.