N. Z. Pig Marketing Association

Te Puke Times, 23 September 1932, Page 3

N. Z. Pig Marketing Association

Address By Mr Hastings

There was an attendance of about fifty farmers in St. Andrew’s Hall on Tuesday night, when Mr Hastings, organiser for the N. Z. Co-Operative Pig Marketing Association, delivered an address.

Mr W. J. Law, a director of the Association presided and in his opening remarks stated that the activities of the Association were now extending to most parts of the North Island and would probably extend to the Seuth Island. The support of the farmers however, was necessary, if they wished to control the industry. Mr Hastings would enlighten them on many points of interest. Mr Hastings endorsed Mr Law’s remarks with regard to the extension of the Association’s operations, stating that be had addressed meetings at Palmerston North, Wanganui, Patea, Gisborne, Northern Wairoa and Hawera, and at each place it had been decided to-link up with the Association. He had also spoken at Opotiki and at Edgeourabe during the last few days and here also farmers had signed up to supply large numbers of pigs. The speaker then gave details of the Board’s transactions since it came into existence 1 five years ago, stating that in only one year, 1929—30 bad it made a loss, due to advances having been made of s£d when the world's markets slumped. The dissatisfaction engendered resulted in the old Board going, out of office and a new Board being set up, every director now being a farmer, whilst the Chairman, Mr Phillips, was a business man and managing direc tor of the Waione Model Pig Farm. The business had been re-organised and large savings effected in agents charges and the haulage fees had been reduced from 3s 4d to Is 5d per head, which amounted to a big sum on the pigs handled. A change over from the Farmers Freezing Company to the Westfield Co. had resul.ted in a saving of £3OOO. The new Board had wished to continue with the former Company, but was unable to arrive at a satisfactory agreement. The Association was now selling through Empire Dairies and this enabled them to sell small paroels in different parts of the world. If this innovation grew it would help to relieve the London market; The old Board had made advances against the ruling scale price, but the new Board bought on the hooks and this he olaimed was an advantage to the farmers. If the Association was not in existence, soale buying would still be pursued and the growers would be receiving 10 per oent less for their pigs. Owing to the cutting down of overhead expenses, it would be difficult for opposition firms to operate against the Association. Of the whole of the pigs handled by the Association last y«ar, only 2.7 per oent were second grade. In baconers the percentage was 1.1. He appealed to those present to give the Association a year’s trial. The reason why farmers had had to accept a low price for 1 their pigs was because the buyers were organised and the farmers were not. The pig business, could be made a profitable industry if all pulled together. They were satisfied with the principle of co-operation in regard to dairying and if it was good enough for dairying it should be good enough for the pig industry. They were probably not aware that 76 per cent of the pigs raised in New Zealand were consumed in the Dominion. The Association had. exported 20,960 pigs and this had s&Ved the in* dustry, for otherwise there would have been a glut on the market and farmers would not have been able to dispose of them at all. Bonuses to the amount of £7,200 had been psid by the Association for five months’ operations. In conclusion, Mr Hastings made a strong plea to those present to stick to the principle of co-opera-tion and give the Association their support. Replying to Mr Henderson. Mr Hastings stated that the Association took the responsibility after the pigs were loaded on the train. After several other questions had been answered, a number of those present signed an agreement to forward their pigs to the Association for a period of twelve months. t

A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Hastings concluded the meeting.