PIG INDUSTRY

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 75, 1 May 1930, Page 6

PIG INDUSTRY

Per Press Association.

BIG CONFERENCE AT PALMERSTON. DUTIES ON STOCK FOOD,

PALMERSTON N., Last night. At the. afternoon session at the conference of pigowners the committee brought forward the- following recom-' mendation : — "That representations be made to the Minister that the necessary regulations be gazetted to enable the Meat Producers' Board to take over full control and accept responsibility for the grading of all pigs killed at meat slaughterhouses and stamp same as having been graded ; also, that a differential .payment he made according to -grade." It was announced that the committee carried this resolution by six to three. Mr S. H. Judd (Waikato) said he was responsible for the resolution.. It was not intended to cover all pigs at present, but it was felt this was the most practical scheme that could be brought into force without any extra expense. The Meat Board has legislativo authority to grade pigs and all that was needed was regulations gazetted. A big advantage of the committee's finding was that grading could he instituted immediately. Delegates objeeted to the committee's finding, in that it did not grade baconers used in the New Zealand trade, and unless this was1 done the whole object of the conference would be lost. Mr B. P. -Neilsen, who moved the original resolution to ask the Government to pass legislation ifiaking it essential to grade all pigs bought for curing or export, pointed out that his motion covered the point at issua, and the conference agreed to re-accept it as an amendment to the committee's finding. The amendment was carried , and, after discussion upon the merits of buying on hook weights and the necessity for a uniform percentage of shrinkage the conference decided to add to the amendment the words "on hook weights." Tlie amendment was then put as the motion ancl carried. The Hon. E. Newman introduced the question of duties on stock focds, and moved the following resolution, whieh was carried unanimously : "Whereas" the price that farmers in New Zealand received for all live stoek and live stock products produced by them is governed by the export parity, thus makingMt necessary for New Zealand live stock farmers to produce at the world' s lowest prices, and whereas grains and concentrated foods of various kinds essential to economic live stock production, particularly for halaneing and concentration rations of pigs, poultry and, to a lesser extent, dairy stock, and whereas New Zealand, while being one of the finest grazing countries in the world does not produce grains suitable for stock foods at world parity prices, this meeting resolves that the Government he asked to remove the duties on all_ grains and concentrated foods required for stock foods and thus enable New Zealand farmers to obtain these stock foods afc the world's competitive prices,." A suggestion that maize-growers should receive a bounty for three years after the removal of duties was not entertained, it being. considered that a small section of farmers should not hold up a growing industry like the' pig industry. Mr Newman stated that Argentine maize coiild be landed in the Dominion at three shillings per bushel.