DOMINION’S GREAT POSSIBILITIES

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXX, Issue 8497, 3 August 1933, Page 3

DOMINION’S GREAT POSSIBILITIES

NEGLECTED WEALTH MEAT BOARD’S ACTIVITIES The eleventh annual report of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board, covering the twelve months ended Juno 30th, 1933, and released for publication to-day, refers to the board’s activities in connection with pig raising for export as follows: “In reviewing the Ottawa-Confer-ence we referred to the restrictions on the enormous supplies of foreign bacon which have been entering tie United Kingdom in recent years. Mr Coates’ letter attached to the Ottawa Agreement also made special reference to the expansion of the pork-export industry of New Zealand. MISSING OPPORTUNITY “This Dominion has probably greater possibilities than any other country for the development of the pig industry. It is the largest exporter of dairy produce in the world, and there is the additional advantage that the bulk of the milk separation is done on the farms. At present the fullest use is not made of the dairy by-products. A certain amount is fed to young stock and to pigs, but there is still a surplus which should be made greater use of in the feeding of more pigs. Compared with Denmark, the dairymen of this Dominion, because of climatic advantages and our wonderful natural resources, have been able to live on the production of butterfat alone, and have neglected the potential wealth of the pig. In Denmark, on the other hand, both industries have been developed side by side until to-day her exports of port products exceed her butter exports in volume and value. “For the past three seasons the board has been making a substantial annual grant to the Waikato Pig Recording Club, and recently a recording club has been formed In the Manawatu district, with a subsidy from the board. These recording clubs are doing very valuable work, and the dissemination of information as to their work relating to the management and feeding of pigs must contribute materially in the successful development of the pig industry along sound lines.

WORK OF THE BOARD “The board also recently arranged for the recording officer attached to the Waikato Pig Recording Club to tour the various districts in the North Island, giving lectures and demonstrations to farmers. Information is also disseminated by means of wireelss talks, publicity and instructional propaganda in farmers’ journals, special appeals by letter to dairy companies and other means. “Last year the Government agreed to the setting-up of a committee known as the Dominion Pig Advisory Committee, representative of all interests connected with the pig industry, to be charged with the responsibility of making a complete investigation of the industry, with a view to determining upon useful recommendations. The board is working closely in touch with this committee, and its general manager is chairman of that body. Several meetings of the committee have been held, and valuable work is being done in the interests of the industry. One important recommendation concerned the establishment of a system of grading pigs at the meat export slaughterhouses and bacon factories and a grading system has now been decided upon and is coming into operation.

INCREASE IN EXPORTS “It is gratifying to note the marked increase in the killings of pork foi export this season, which is referred to elsewhere in this report. It is anticipated that the total kill for the season will represent an increase of well over 100 per cent, as compared with the previous' season. "The board is doing everything possible to help the pig industry of this Dominion. In its shipping freight contracts it has always recognised that the export of pork was an industry that must be helped, and since, its inception the board has specially arranged with the shipping companies for a low shipping-freight rate on port, so that to-day the rate on pork is reduced to less than onehalf what it was in 1922. “New Zealand pork is the subject of special advertising at Home in the trade papers and elsewhere.’’