POULTRY CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 16992, 14 March 1919, Page 7

POULTRY CONFERENCE

At yesterday’s sitting of the Poultrymen’s Conference at Christchurch the Auckland Association’s remit asking that an annual census of fowls and ducks be taken under the Census and Statistics Act, 1910, was negatived, the general opinion i«tns that the expense would not be justified. • It was decided that the association circularise all affiliated organisations asking what quantity of egg pulp they can supply for the New Zealand market. The Otago Egg Circle’s remit asking that the Government bfe requested to control the prices of fowl wheat was agreed to. A remit asking the Government to give 24 gold medals or ribbons for competition in the poultry sections at poultry shows in the North and South Islands, 12 to be assigned to each island, was agreed to. The Canterbury Egg Circle submitted a remit that the Government be urged to prohibit the importation of eggs in any form except for breeding purposes.;— After considerable discussion the remit was agreed to. The following motions were carried: — That the Government be asked to protect the poultry industry by preventing an increase in the prices of pollard and bran. That the Government be urged to import fowl wheat from Australia (if found necessary) to relieve the poultry industry from the present high prices. That the Government be asked favorably to consider the question of grafting ponltrymen the same financial assistance for building cool storage as is granted to orchardists. That the Government be asked to devise soma means for the destruction of weasels, stoats, and hawks, which are at present causing considerable havoc Stmongst poultry. That the association urge the Government, when appointing repatriation and other boards dealing with returned soldiers, to give the Poultry Association an opportunity to nominate a member to inch boardf to look after the interests of the poultry industry. That the executive again communicate with the Government respecting increased grants to egg-laying competitions. It was unanimously decided that next year’s conference be held at Dunedin. The following officers were elected for 1919 : —President, Mr A. S. Holmes (Auckland) ; vice-presidents, Messrs E. J. Ross (Christchurch) and H. H. Armstrong (Carterton) ; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. B. Merrett (Christchurch); executive—Messrs E. Gallichan (Wellington), H. W. Childs (Christchurch), S. Dick (Christchurch), H. M. Boddington (Maeterton), and Andrew Love (Dunedin).