PIG BREEDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 201, 26 July 1937, Page 2

PIG BREEDING

MANAWATU CLUB ENDS. NATIONAL SCHEME STARTS. Marking the close of five years of useful work, and yet its continuation under a wider, national scope, the annual meeting of the Alanawatu-Oroua Pig Development and Recording Club was held on Saturday afternoon. The chair was occupied by Air B. E. Keiller. There was an attendance of over 20 persons, among whom were Messrs A. H. Cockayne (Director-General of Agriculture) and M. J. Scott (Superintendent of the Pig Industry). The report and balance-sheet were adopted on the motion of Mr W. S. Carter, seconded by Air H. E. Thurston. When speaking of the balance-sheet, the chairman said there was on hand £l2O 17s Id, but most of that would be absorbed in the conduct of the feed trial, now in progress on Air AV. A. Davison’s farm at Ilongotea. The chairman moved that, in view of the impending formation of the district council of the national scheme of instruction and research, the club be wound up, and after all liabilities were met the balance he paid over to the district council. The motion was seconded by Mr G. M. Whiteloek and carried. Professor W. Riddett and Messrs Keiller and AV. J. Crouchcr wen# ap pointed a committee to .wind up the affairs of the club. Air AV. P. Bickers heartily congratu lated the members of the club on their labours. They deserved the thanks of all interested in the pig industry and all connected with it, he said. Air Carter said that the club had been started in the face of difficulty, hut tlie small band of enthusiasts had worked well and on the right lines. The speaker remarked that he did not think that the members of the club realised themselves the great amount of good they had done for the industry. The name of Air J. A. Russell was mentioned, among others, as one who had rendered yeoman service, and in returning thanks he said he thought he could lay claim to having been the pioneer of the pig improvement movement in the Alanawatu.

Mr R. C. Abraham wrote congratulating the club on its accomplishments, saying that, thanks to such organisations as the club, the farmer could obtain sound advice, which was replacing the old “hit or miss,” and costly, methods. The letter was received and is to be recorded in the minutes. THE NEW ORDER.

The annual meeting was then closed and Air Keiller retired from the chair. Professor Riddet was elected chairman for the remaining proceedings, on the motion of Air Keiller.

Outlining the aims and objects of the national scheme of instruction, research and recording, Air Scott said the levy of 2d per pig would return about £7OOO, and it was the aim of tire Department of Agriculture to make the pig producers responsible for the expenditure of the fund. Eight district councils (each receiving £800) were being formed, and the National Council would ask for the district councils’ proposals for expenditure. The district councils would include as many as possible of interests allied with the industry, such as the (Farmers’ Union and Department of Agriculture. Pig clubs would appoint representatives as' members of the council and, in order to meet possible unwieldiness, an executive would be appointed from the district council’s annual meeting. Twenty pig clubs in the Taranaki area had been able to buy requisites at a cost which had well repaid members their £1 membership fee. They were obliged to use, by the rules, only recorded pedigree pigs and to put up good buildings for the housing of the pigs. The members set an example to the district and an organiser knew when he visited a pig club that he had a direct and active interest from fanners there. Further, membership of the pig clubs gave a farmer a say in iiow the £7OOO fund should be administered. It was for the farmers themselves to make a success of the scheme—to make it or mar it.

Air Keiller moved that a district council be set up to act in this district in connection with the national scheme. • Air Carter seconded the motion, the chairman saying the district embraced the Hawke’s Bay, Alanawatu, Horowhenua and Oroua areas. The chairman moved, as an recommendation from the Recording Club, that in the meantime the district council consist of 12 members, to include one each from the Pig Breeders’ Association, the Alanawatu-Oroua branch of the Pig Breeders’ Association, Alassey College, the Department of Agriculture, the Shannon Pig Club and the Norsewood Pig Club. Air Whiteloek moved that the remaining six seats be filled bv Messrs AV. J. Croucher (Palmerston North), O. Eglinton (Sanson), AA’. A. Davison (Rongotea), H. E. Thurston (Alakino), G. Lyons (Kopane) and B. E. Keiller (Fitzherbert). Mr L. I. Plimmer was appointed secretary and Mr J. F. Rodden auditor.

Invited by the chairman to speak, Air Cockayne said he had come to Palmerston North primarily to he present at the translation of the pioneering work of the Alanawatu-Oroua Club into tlie national organisation. He congratulated the club and said he felt that by its dissolution the club lost nothing. The day represented the culmination of about six years’ endeavour by the department of Agriculture, the Waikato club and the Alanawatu-Oroua club. Although from a certain angle one was sorry that the two pioneering clubs had had to go out of existence, he felt that their work would be extended many-fold in the new order. He could not stay away, feeling that it was one of the historic meetings in the development of the pig industry. The chairman emphasised that the success of the national scheme rested with those engaged jn the industry. He was quite sure that" the scheme would put the industry on a basis comparable with that of the dairy industry, important not only in New Zealand, but' in the world as well. He wished the district council the best of success in its new work.

At the close of tlie meeting Air Carter moved, as a recommendation to the district council, that Air W. Moynihan, of Shannon, he added as a member of the council. Replying to a question, Air Scott urged that the pig clubs be formed as soon as possible. It was within the province of the district council to vote funds or make loans to the clubs to assist their formation. On Air Keiller’s motion, a vote of thanks was accorded Alessrs Cockayne and Scott for their attendance, and to the chairman.