CANTERBURY EGG CIRCLE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15561, 10 April 1916, Page 5

CANTERBURY EGG CIRCLE.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Canterbury Egg Circle was held on Saturday evening. There was an attendance of sixty, nearly all the members of the Kaiapoi district being present. Mr C. Rcnn presided.

A motion of sympathy was passed with Mr G. P. Anthony in his recent bereavement.

The secretary, Mr J. B. Mcrrefrt, then read the annual report, ivliich stated that a most successful and encouraging year had been experienced. Notwithstanding the high price of reeds, the cessation of passenger shipping, traffic, and the departure of jO,(K)0 young men occasioned by the .var, the demand for eggs had been r.ost remarkable, and at the jiresent ciiu'j, though they were 2s per dozen, the Circlc was unable to supply eggs sufficient for the demand. The membership was 155, and growing rapid!}'. Last year the egg supply totalled 76,139 dozen, with an average otf Is 3d a dozen for first grades, while for the first quarter of the current year 30,142 dozen had been sold, or nearly half the supply of the past twelve months. During the coming year it was hoped to take up moro educational work. Tho science of egg production was only in its infancy, and there was much for members to learn.' Marketing could be much improvod, and the centralisation of supplios was desired. The New Zealand Poultry Association was congratulated on the progress it had made in persuading the Government to better the conditions of the poultrymen. The stamping of foreign eggs imported into New Zealand, the appointment of two additional instructors, the removal of duty off certain British-made . poultry goods, the help in publishing records, were signs of advancement secured by* the Association. The war had meant much distress to French and Belgian | poultry-keepers, and it spoke well for i English poultrymen that over £6000 j had been gathered to help them, in adI dition to thousands of birds sent to France to re-stock the farms in Flanders. Now that foodstuffs 'were dovjn, and prices for eggs were good, it was hoped to do more to help the distress occasioned by the war. In moving the adoption of the report, Mr C. Renn congratulated the Circle on its remarkable progress, and said it was tho committee's intention to undertake educational work during the com-

nig 3*ear. - , Tlie chairman welcomed Mr A. G. Mumby, of Wellington, ex-president of the New Zeamnd Poultry. Association, and Mr C. J. Cussen. Government Poultry Instructor. It was resolved that an annual membership fee be charged, the proceeds to ; bo devoted to purely educational work. A resolution that branch committees be elected in the country districts was negatived in favour of a" country member being elected on the general committee. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President. Dr. J. Henry Cra\vshaw; vice-president, Mr C. Itenn; secretary, Mr J. B. Merrett: treasurer, Mr T. Fazackerley; general committee, Messrs W. Wigglesworth, F. A. Rollinson, A. Hansen, W. Ward, A. E. Kent, J. Gibson, and H. W. Childs. The election of country representatives was left in the hands of the general committee. It "was resolved that congratulations be forwarded to Mrs J. Mills, Dunedin, and Miss Willis, Christchurch, winners of the light and heavy breed egglaying competitions. Mr A. G. Mumby gave a brief address, and congratulated the Circle on its good -work. A social hour was then spent, during which refreshments were handed round by the ladies. Recitations were given by Mr F. Brewins, Miss M. Brewins, Mr C. J. Cussen, Miss Elsie Brewins, 'and Miss Kathleen Brewins.