POULTRY INTERESTS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 97, 25 April 1916, Page 2

POULTRY INTERESTS

CONTROLLING THE EGG MARKET

NECESSITY FOR COMBINATION

The New Zealand Poultry Conference resumed to-day, Mr. .H. M. Boddingtem presiding. In the discussion on Mr. A. G. Mumby's paper on "The Necessity for Combination" (which has already been dealt with in The Post) Mr. J. A. Simson referred to the good results to be achieved by concentration ■of supplies of both fresh and preserved eggs. New Zealand preserved eggs were quite equal to American chilled. Better prices for eggs had been obtained in Wellington through organisation than in Auckland, j Christchurch, and Duneclin during the past six months. It was pointed out by a delegate that Auckland eggs had been sent to Wellington to get the advantage of an ad- i vance of 2d.' Some consultation with Wellington' should have been held be- ! 'fore this competition was entered into. There should be combination all round. Mr. J. B. Merrett, secretary, referred to a movement in Canterbury to bring up the price of eggs during the summer. Importations from California would have to be- watched so that the local price should not be pushed too high. That 2s i3d per dozen should be demanded "for eggs was downright rob-, bery.' Mr._ E. Gallichan regretted the lack of organisation. Provinces should not compete with one another. The markets should be so regulated as to secure uniform prices. There must be something wonderful in American combination when California could land excellent eggs in New Zealand in good condition to compete with 4 New Zealand eggs, and bear high freight, insurance, duty, and other charges. . Mr. F. C. Brown, Government Instructor, outlined what the Government had done to help the poultryman.*' Egg circles could not be formed by the Government, bui) only advocated. He showed how the trouble with the storage of eggs was. one of capital for the sniall man, who needed quick returns for his produce. So far as the big man was concerned, if he had the true spirit of co-operation he would come .in, but it was the small man who needed assistance. Mr. J. Bruce, Assistant-Director Live Stock Division, stated that preservation ol' egg's gave a profit of 50 per cent, in from four to five months. That ought to be sufficient.- He gladly acknowledged the self-reliant spirit of iroultrymen, who did not wish to be spoon-fed by the Government, but the State would no doubt help them when help should bo required. Mi;.1 Mumby was cordially thanked for his paper. UTILITY BIRDS. Mr. J. W. Green (Christchurch), representing tho N.Z. Utility Poultry Club, introduced the question of adopting the club'a standard for utility poultry. He pointed .out that, as utility poultry was known only during the past eleven years in New Zealand, and as the last time the standard was revised was six years ago, he maintained that there' waa room for alterations and improvements. He submitted a standard, drafted by some of the leading utility experts ill tho Dominion. This was fully discussed, and the standard was referred to the executive of tho Poultry Association and the Agricultural Department to come to decision. Mr. Green was thanked for his illuminating paper. RAILAGE CHARGES. The Auckland Co-operative Egg-Pro-ducers' Association, who sent no delegate to the conference urgecT "that- the Government be again asked to reduce the railage charges on eggs to. the same rate charged on fruit and that eggs be classified as perishable goods." This was opposed by the President (Mr. Boddington), also.by the late President (Mr. Finn), both of whom thought the time was inopportune to ask the Government .to remit the railway charges; and besides the Government carried returned empties free. In the discussion that followed regret was expressed that Auckland had sent down no delegates. Mr. Meri-itt said the ' Government treated poultrymen most liberally on the railways. If they argued too much about what is done by the Government then they might lose the privilege of returning empties free. They should not ask of the Government; a lot of silly things. This was a silly 'remit. They should not hold themselves up to bo a lot of mugs by not properly ascertaining and presenting their facts. It was only_ in exceptional cases that eggs were railed over one hundred miles. Ashburton had been paying Is 9d per crate to Christchurch, but by railing all together .they got their eggs to Christchurch at lid perforate and empty crates returned free. Mr. S. H. Scott (Auckland) condemned the remit. Mr. Merritt said there had been a most pernicious system in Canterbury, which the Railway would probably deal with by stopping the free return of empties by rail. He referred to the sending back of empties by rail free, while the crates when full had been brought in by other conveyance. In this way - the. Railway Department did not receive the benefit of the freight but it carried the empties back for nothing. The remit was adopted by a majority of one. New Zealand pollard was' discussed as a poultry food, and it was stated by several speakers who had used botli that 1501b of Australian pollard was worth 2001b of New Zealand pollard, as a poultry food on account of its undue percentage of bran. It was resolved: "That, in the event of legislation being passed to limit the price of flour, the Government be urged, in the interests of poultry producers, to do the same for pollard."