SPECIAL PIG SALES

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3304, 2 June 1931, Page 5

SPECIAL PIG SALES

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES. FARMERS’ UNION DISCUSSION. Whether better prices are obtained for fat pigs at public auctions or by selling over the scales is a subject that has exercised the minds of executive members of the Te Awamutu branch of the Farmers’ Union. The subject was again discussed at last Saturday’s meeting of the Union. Mr W. A. Woodward was called upon to. support his motion tabled at last month’s meeting in favour of holding regular auction sales locally of fat pigs. He said he had compared sales notes ,and was convinced •that sales by auction were more Advantageous to the farmers. At Frankton sales the prices per head were 6s to 8s higher than locally over the scales. He was not at all in accord with the views expressed by the Pigmarketing Association. Mr J. Duncan expressed similar views, and instanced his own experiences. Auction sales in the Lower Waikato were very successful. Mr A. Hanna briefly outlined the results of co-operative effort by the farmers of Denmark, instancing what had been done for dairying products, and its side lines such as the pork and bacon industry. Co-oper-ation was the only feasible way for farmers to make a living. The Danish peasant farmer is the most highly educated class of farmers in the whole world. Their education was along sound practical and utilitarian lines. Adult education was responsible for all this. If Denmark could achieve such devisable results, surely New Zealand could follow the lead and profit likewise.

Mr W. J. Hodgson reported that he had received intimation from an authoritative source on the subject of pig-marketing, indicating how the farmer usually has to pay commission on sales twice —once when the animals are weaners or stores, and again as baconers.

The secretary added that he had been in communication with the Pigmarketing Association regarding the payment of advances and deferred bonuses. The reply set out the problems faced by the Association, special reference being made to the financial exchange rates, which were far more beneficial to exporters in Australia and Argentina than to New Zealand. The Home market had been very uncertain, and at one stage it took a turn that could not be foreseen even by exports at Smithfield. A new system of making advances was being introduced to meeting the circumstances, and it was felt that better service would result. It was stated that the Pig-market-ing Association’s chairman does not recommend saleyard buying of pigs, favouring purchase of fat pigs over the scales as more advantageous to the vendor —usually the farmer.

Mr Hodgson said his investigations confirmed that opinion.

Mr A. S. Wyllie quoted his experience and observations at Westfields, Frankton locally. Advantage varied from sale to sale. He did not think an auction sale in Te Awamutu would be a success. Mr Crawley thought the Pig-Mar-keting Association, which is a cooperative concern, should be supplied. Mr Hodgson was of much the same opinion, and he went into figures bearing on results obtained from exporting to the Home market. If it was a sound principle to support co-oper-ative marketing of dairy produce it was surely sound to co-operative in pig-marketing. The pig-marketing Association is creating a market at Home, and it should be encouraged. Selling at auction would enable proprietory interests to obtain a footing, and then they would dominate the market; down would come the price to the farmer. He favoured co-opera-tive effort. Proprietary interests do not operate as a charitable institution. Farmers should stick to their co-op-erative organisations. The danger lies in the failure of farmers to remain loyal; they are really traitors to themselves and their fellow farmers, for they assist proprietary interests to restrict or influence the market. The farmers may gain a little for a while, but they do not profit in the long run. Selling at auction or to proprietary interests over the scales is very bad business indeed. Messrs Hanna and J. G. Butterworth urged hearty and full co-op-eration with the Pig-Marketing Association. Mr Woodward said he was glad to hear the views ex pressed, and after consideration he would ask leave to withdraw his motion. —This was agreed to.