POULTRY REGISTRATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 September 1934, Page 12

POULTRY REGISTRATIONS

MANY EVASIONS OF ACT A total of 12,691 registrations were recorded by the Poultry Board for th© period from Ist June 1934 to Ist September 1934, for which the fees received amounted to £2,272. 2.6 d. The last Government \ Census of poultry 1926, showed over 30,000 flocks of 25 or more fowls. In the absence of any later statistical returns it is impossible to venture any opinion in regard to the present number of flocks of 25 or more, neither is it possible to arrive at any estimate of the number of flocks of 25 or more head of poultry from which eggs are not sold, and which are therefore not subject to registration. Nevertheless, it is obvious that thousands of poultry-keepers whose “poultry-runs” are subject to the provisions of the Act, and who should have registered in June last, have failed to do so, thereby rendering themselves liable to prosecution. It is specifically provided that the Act shall be administered by the N.Z. Poultry Board. The responsibility of taking adequate measures to ensure that provisions of the Act relative to the registration of poultry-runs are carried out therefore devolves upon the Board. The Board is desirous of successfully carrying out this obligation without having recourse to extreme measures. After allowing two months’ grace however, it has become quite apparent that many poul-try-keepers have not complied with the Act, probably in some cases because they are not aware of the requirements of the Act, in others, because of carelessness or a deliberate intention to evade the payment of the required fee (2/6 per 100 head of poultry). A.n absund method of attempted evasion reported to the Board took the form of dividing a flock between members of a family so that each person would ostensibly own less than 25 head of poultry. Others have been misled into believing that poultry kept for breeding purposes are exempted, whereas where any eggs are sold from a flock of 25 or more “poultry”, all “poultry” must be included, and the appropriate fee paid. The Board has obtained legal opinion to the effect that the common procedure of supplying eggs to a grocer or storekeeper where the value of same is credited to a producer who receives goods in return, and although no money transaction may ensue, constitutes a sale within the meaning of the Act. Whilst the Board will, in the meantime, accept voluntary overdue registrations without any question of penalty, action will have to be taken if necessary to enforce the provisions of the Act. Apart from other reasons this a duty the Board owes to those who have promptly paid their fees. A register is now in course of preparation, and local lists will soon be available. These will be of very material assistance in checking up registrations and detecting defaulters.