POULTRY-PACKING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 101, 22 January 1908, Page 2

POULTRY-PACKING.

/' -VV ' 9 - CRITICISM BY A CRADER," - 1 AUCKLAND'S INDUSTRY. i . (?*,•• mniiupii—srxcuu coßßKsronpisNT.)--Auckland, January 21. N Ino ■ methods of packing birds for the 2iiarket>'adopted by' somor- poultry-r farmers oo not commend themselves to Mr. Leihy,' of ■ -tho i-Government Poultry Ijepot-/ - who ; - spoke of the need : for improvement, to an - lntei viefler yesteiday; "l ! or instance,"'he • said, the, other , day ,-we received a case fiom the country- containing 20 young' roosters, ■■ and it measured only 24in. by 18in. by 12in. Four of, tho birds were dead' on arrival hero, and soveral of the,others were' piettv neai it ■ "That is only one case," continued 'Mr. : Leihy, .".and l there are,.others. Very fow breeders, take-sufficient caro with their packing.; Ono man sent in a crate with a bottom of'-Backing; - lie Vas evidently, too'.'tired nail on a few'bbards. , The result was that - sonie of 'tli'o; birds' had their legs broken tand .*'& many of - them 'wefe or less ■ damaged. Then, , others : send in crates' without any names: on them, 'and wonder what has gqne • wring- when they get. no' acknowledgment. , LOCAL DEMAND TAKES SUPPLIES. "The demand here .. absorbs all; the local supplies," continued the grader, in reply; to a question,' "and there is next/ to - notmng - offering ; for. export'.;' Crates have been recsived, for export, but this has been'counter- -i: mahded-la'tor. on, and the consignments have gone ;on to the. local m&rkej; the prices 1 were so tempting that the owner, was induced to sell. By. a local sale he also avoids the risk of the.Home market fluctuation's." *.»•.. \ "Is business still'-brisk?".■ : i :,. . i " I should-say it was, anc! with, a rosy outlook for the coming season it is doubtful if vthis: building will lie big;; enough ; for tto . work. .Certainly we shall have to'find moro' accommodation if lha industry shows ' tho same ; increase next year as it has this year.' At present there are 12 imen engaged -at the Auckland ...depot-.. Consignments aro arriving daily; by train and boat from all over ,the province.- The is,now, on tho wane." ' - ~ - ; -,j* ' IMPORTANCE OF BREEDING. ' Asked for a comparison between the industry in Auckland and that'of the-Southern centres, ,Mr. : Leihy (who recently came from Christdhurch) said the local poultry trade, as\far as he coiild jildge, was ahead of that ' of-any other city in the Dominion, both for • supply aiid demand, though he' could not say- that the quality of the birds all round was! anything exceptional. i . ... ■' • ■ ' " Striking an avorage," ho said," " they, are fair.-: There seems to be a'| tendency : to' go in '.-'for ..'the' running. duck,: whicK i_s ahig . egg producer.' but ;not a ' very satisfactory table bird.''-The.breed of birds is ;a matter to which I think 'the poultry .'farmers.:'of ■ Auckland might very profitably pay 'more •' attention." ;, 1 ;'' v