POULTRYMEN.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18015, 6 March 1924, Page 12

POULTRYMEN.

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON. COMPLAINTS OF HIGH PRICE 0! WHEAT. (SPK3AI, TO "THS PBS3S.") "WELLINGTON, March o. The fourteenth annual conference o the New Zealand Poultry Association was opened here to-day. Delegates at tended from all parts of the Dominion Mr J. Liggins, of Christchurch, pre sided. The Mayor (Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.) extended a hearty -welcome to the dele gates, and sympathetic speeches in re gard to complaints of high prices o fotrl wheat were made by Sir Join Luke. Messrs P. Frasor and R. TJfc Keen, M.P.'s. In his address, the president

jifr J. Liggins, said that it was very gratifying to be in the position to report that the poultry industry had made such an advancement, and that in order to find an outlet for the eggs produced in excess of Dominion requirements, the Association had had to look to the overseas market. An export trade was absolutely necessary. to those engaged in the poultry industry. The production had enormously increased during the last few years, and poultrymen would be at a dead end unless an qutside market was successfully established. The London market was

recently tested with three shipments ' of eggs, and the results were so satisfactory that the jpoultrymen of New Zealand need have no fear of over-pro-duction provided that the quality of the eggs in future shipments was maintained. He was convinced that in order to ensure this it would be to the best interests of the poultry industry to have Government compulsory grading of all eggs for export. The very best eggs, and no other, would do for the London - market, if the good impression that the first shipments had made were to be maintained. It was imperative that an export trade carried on in connexion with the poultry industry must be protected by legislation, as was the case with the dairy, meat, fruit, and other primary pro-

ducts, by a provision that no ungraded eggs be allowed to leave the Dominion for sale abroad- Another important j point was that all possible overhead j charges at this end must be eliminated. He would suggest that at the earliest possible moment a committee be set-up to confer with the Chief Government Poultry Expert, who would later fur- • nish a report on the best methods of organisation and carrying out of. the export trade. After paying' a tribute to the work done for the poultry industry by Mr J. B. Merrett, who accompanied the first shipment of New Zealand eggs to Britain on the Corinthic, the president said that in tjie earlydays of the industry the Government estabUshed grading depots in the four.

chief centres, in charge, of expert egj graders and poultry pluckers imported from Australia. Unfortunately, thos< depots were before their tim<s, as th< production did not Warrant their exist ence, but if they could be reopened, no 1 * it would nexion with the grading .of eggs ; ,f01 export. It seemed impossible; witi present organisations, to abolish the evils which were only too well known to those eiigaged in the industry, and he could think, of no better way ol meeting this than for the Government 'to pass legislation govd.rv ing the marketing of eggs andr poultry on similar lines",to that already in-force in respect of other perishable ; foodstuffs. At- the last conference the Chief Poultry Instructor made the remark that if the Association would frame a sound policy it would have four organisers, as both he and his assistants would be only too pleased to advocate such a policy and endeavour to induce poultrymen to support the Association whenever coming in. eostftcf

•with them during their rounds of inspection. The 'industry was on the eve_ of a great revival, and, as he had predicted for some years, there was a great future ■ waiting it if only producers would be loyal to themselves, fie, sincerely urged every producer to give his whole-hearted support _ towards cooperation with the Association.

The delegates generally endorsed the presiHent's remarks. The president announced, that arrangements had been made for a deputation to the Minister in regard to high wheat prices, high 'freights, etc., and to strengthen the hands of the deputation it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of_Mr T. Bruce (Palme*-

ston North): "That this conference views with great disfavour the manner in winch the Government has handled the importation of wfceat for poultry farmers, and requests that in the event of fixation of prices, as requested by the "Wfieat Growers' Amociation for the season 1925, the price of fowl wheat bo fixed at one shilling per bushel less than thai of milling wheat. In the course of a discussion, Mr W. E. GVitfiths (Auckland) stated thai good, whole fowl wheat could be bought in Adelaide at 3s 7d a bushel.