POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 75, 30 March 1939, Page 19

POULTRY INDUSTRY.

CONTROLLING DISEASE. STATEMENT TO CONFERENCE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Department was fully alive to the possibilities of the poultry industry, but felt there was not the same unity among the producers as there was among other sections, said the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, addressing the . New Zealand Poultry Producers' Federation at its annual conference in Wellington to-day. In addition, practically half the population kept poultry, the majority only a fewbirds, and this made organisation difficult. Mr. Lee Martin said that poultry disease research would be included in the activities of the new division of animal research under the control of Dr. Gilmer. The Minister said that two additional poultry instructors were being appointed. One would assist the present Auckland instructor. The other would be stationed in Dunediii and his services would be available to Otago and Southland poultrykeepers. The officers were expected to take up their duties almost immediately. The Director-General o£ Agriculture. Mr. A. H. Cockayne, who accompanied the Minister, said he had placed £200 on the Department's estimates this year for assistance to egg-laying competitions. Whether the estimates were cut down or not he intended to do his best to see that this sum was not interfered with. "Will the Minister use his influence with the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, to have a marketing scheme for the poultry industry brought down?" Mr. Lee Martin was asked. "We have waited a long time and our hopes are just about dead," said the questioner, suggesting that the announcement might be made before the conference ended. Mr. Lee Martin did not know whether it would be possible for the Minister of Marketing to make a pronouncement before the conference closed. He would probably want more time. Mr. Lee Martin promised he would investigate the matter and convey the conference's wish to Mr. Nash.