DELEGATES' DINNER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 58, 9 March 1928, Page 4

DELEGATES' DINNER

"The present conference is an:epochmaking one," declared Mr. .F. H. Cooper, chairman, at the dinner held last night in connection with the annual, meeting of the New Zealand Poultry Association, now being held in Wellington. The association, he sated, was now a live body; all the misunderstandings that had held them back in the past had now been cleared n and a feeling of fellowship prevailed nt the meetings. The association was a united body, and he looked to the future with confidence. present conference had been unique, :n that Mr. P. S. Pope ■ (Acting Director-General of the Agricultural Department) had been present at most of the meetings, and had taken part in their discussions. He (Mr. Cooper) thought that the PoultryAssociation should be proud of the recognition thus given by the Department. .'."•■' . Mr. Pope stated that the' Poultry Association's. Conferences were doing-a great deal, of good to the industry. Mr. F. C. Brown (Chief Poultry Instructor) said that the aim of the Agricultural Department, in regard, to the poultry industry, and all other matters, was to make two blades of grass grow where One grew before. As to the position of the poultry industry, he believed that New Zealand could lead the world with her heavy producing birds. The association had proved that it could land eggs in London in 35 or 36 days, and that the were jqual to any other eggs on the market. That was duo to. the grading system, and the grading was the only thing in the nature of a subsidy that was given to the industry. Whatever the Department could do to help them, the poultry keepers must first help themselves if their industry was to be a truly prosperous one, and the best advice he could give them was, "Organise, organise, organise." . . The toast list comprised: "The Visitors," proposed by Mr. Mumby, and responded to by Messrs. Roberts, Liggins, and. Jones; "Tho Department of Agriculture," proposed by Mr. Hawkes, and responded to by Messrs. Pope and Brown; " The Ladies'," proposed by'Mr. Cussen, ■ and responded to by Mrs. Young; '.'The Press," proposed by Mr. Bates; "The President of tho Now Zealand Poultrymen's Association," proposed by Mr. Brown, and responded to by Mr. Green. Musical items were rendered by the MeJodie Four (Messrs. S. Duncan, F. Bryant, S. E.'AUright, and W. W. Marsliall)^ assisted'by Mr. B. Ginger, with Mr. : Lv Barnes as pianist. '>