GOVERNMENT POULTRY STATIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CII, Issue 11948, 20 July 1899, Page 2

GOVERNMENT POULTRY STATIONS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —My attention has been drawn to the several articles and letters which from time to time have been appearing in your columns from the pen of Mr Alex. Beck, M.E. To remove the false impressions which- these articles and letters may have created regarding the Poultry Expert, Mr Hyde, and the working of tlie stations, allow me to say: 1. The only importations are two Houdan cockerels and six hens. These were obtained in 1897, through tlie Director of Agriculture, France, and with the exception of one are all alive.

2. That the poultry stations are situated at Motuihi 'lsland, Auckland; Momohaki Experimental Station, near Waverley (the principal); and one pen of Brown Leghorns, at Somes Island, Wellington. ■ - 3. That Mr Hyde was appointed in Mav, 1898. ‘

4. That the Momohaki Poultry Station is under the direct supervision of the overseer of that station; Mr Hyde only making periodical visits.

5. The statement regarding rearing of chickens is absolutely without foundation, as 508 were reared, besides nearly 3000 eggs sold.

6. The statement regarding infertile eggs is quite contraiy to fact. Mr Beck has evidently accepted statements made by some irresponsible persons who had no foundation for their so-called facts. I would, therefore, suggest that in future he makes some effort to test the reliability of his informant before appending his name to such inaccuracies.—l am, etc., JOHN D. RITCHIE, Secretary for Agriculture.