THE GAME FARM

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 5

THE GAME FARM

MAKING IT PAY

HEN-REARING DROPPED

Rearing pheasants under hens is to be dropped by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society as the result of successful experience for two seasons with incubators and brooder houses, and a sum not exceeding £300 is to be expended towards making the farm pay. It is proposed to install three incubators, six brooders, six brooder houses, and a feed mixing house. There will then be facilities for hatching and rearing 3000 pheasants. Reporting to last night's meeting of the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, Mr. C. E. Aldridge, chairman of the game committee, recalled that the year before last an incubator and a brooder and brooder house were given a trial. After being tried again last season and with the experience gained, it was decided that this method was better than the former methods with hens, as there would be fewer fatalities. Under the old system, mortality in wet years reached 800 chickens out of 1500 hatched. The game committee was satisfied this was immensely better, than rearing under hens; especially in wet weather. The expenditure proposed included the material and erection of brooder houses 'and the other necessary plant. If it was installed the curator of the game farm would be able to produce birds at 15s a pair. Last weekend, continued Mr. Aldridge, the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) visited the game farmland was much impressed with the appliances there and the quality of the birds. The Minister said that he had no idea that the society had such a place, and when informed cf the proposals to go on with the expenditure fully endorsed them, and said they should aim at 5000 birds. There was a difficulty in obtaining birds from breeders to the numbers guaranteed, said Mr. Aldridge, and no doubt if the proposals were carried out the game farm could be turned into a paying proposition, with the Government and other societies as a nvrket. He referred to the excellent york done recently by large working bees, consisting very largely of anglers, who had practically made the site selected ready-for the buildings. Congratulating Mr. Aldridge on the work done, the chairman (Dr. G. F. V. Anson) moved that the committee's recommendation be endorsed. This was

carried. Votes of thanks to Mr. Aldridge and the working bees were carried by acclamation.

Mr. G. C. Cronin, Palmerston North, was appointed a ranger's cadet to the society.