POULTRYMEN'S FIELD DAY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3186, 10 September 1917, Page 8

POULTRYMEN'S FIELD DAY

According to lite Christchurch "Press" a field day held at Mr. J. B. Sherrett s was a pronounced success. ' There wore over four hundred visitors, and after inspection of the plant and tbe thousand dayold chickens the Government Poultry Experts gave addresses, which listened to with keen interest.- Practical demonstrations were givj ll by Brown in tho selection of layers, etc. After the addresses a collection wa9 take> up for patriotic purposes, which resuted in- <£7-123. being collected. resulted in <£7 12s. being collected. ilr. Brown expressed his pleasure at being present, affirming it to De one or the largest gatherings over held by poultrymeJi. In his opinion tho hard time through which poultrykeepers had passed was due to dear feeds and tho importation of Asiatic eggs. On the one hand the cost of production was m* creased, on the other hand the prices of poultrymen's were _ kept low. The struggle had teen intensified since war broke out, and the industry had received nianv set-backs. It was hard fighting, but he believed better times would come. In tho face of increased knowledge and the' high-tested' layer he felt sure producers would come out better than ever. Years ago the 2M to 800-egg hen was considered an impossibility, but now birds were available in. large numbers. For the year ending December 31 last about 143,763 dozens of eggs were imported. This did not seem a great deal, bat it was expected this year the number would be increased. There wae an apparent shortage of egg-production, but what was the cause? He attributed one of the causes to lack of organisation. Producers were unable for want; of being organised to pass the extra cost on. In 19U, while wheat was 3s. W v eggs averaged Is. 3d. per dozen; in'l9ls, when • wheat was 6s. Id., the price was no better. This showed lack of organised power. He the importations would end if sufccient production were forthcoming. He stated that tho Government were prepared .to help all they could, and espert advice was always obtainable. tte stated that it would mean a great deal to Canterbury if a poultry demonstration -were ■established there. The groundi.had. been secured, and he hoped the' money would be forthcoming at an early date.