POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 111, 11 April 1936, Page 7

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”) Now that tlie;e is every liheliao >d that guaranteed prices are to be assured for the dairy farmer, nu.y.ie t, is felt that a similar guarantee, or a.s near to it as is workable, should be the lot of the egg producer. The first step in this direction comes with a definite resolution. passed unanimously at the last meeting of the Poultry Board. It is a straight cut declaration of policy,, reading as follows: “That the board’s ultimate object is the establishment of complete control of both internal and external sales'of eggs and pulp. The board at this juncture does not contemplate the establishment of its own marketing floor, but is of the opinion that its objects can be achieved by the utilisation of existing marketing channels.”

Seen with regard To the above developments, a prominent 'poultryman said he does not care how the scheme is developed; all that concerns him lis that it should be done bv fair | means and done quickly. He is “fed up” with baying to pay for" feed on a protected market and sell *his produce for just what he is lucky, or unI lucky, enough to get. | That about sums up the position of j poultrynien generally, who pill watch with considerable interest the progress !of events. Since the formation, of the | New Zealand Poultry Producers’ Fed- ' oration there has been an almost incessant demand for action on the lines now proposed. The Manawatu Poultry, Pigeon, Canary and Foreign Bird Club, at a meeting held recently, decided to allow the Wanganui Association to hold its next show in conjunction with that of the local association, in June. It appears tlia.t for certain reasons the Wanganui society desires this arrangement for one year only by which time it .hopes to be able to resume its show j at the usuaPtime and place:’ • . j It was felt by the local association that, subject to a few minor condi- | tions. there was nothing to prevent j the Wanganui poultrynien joining in i with the local fixture in June. j

Such an " arrangement as -that indicated above, which means.that; all the trophies offered by the Wanganui Society will be available for open, competition, together with' tihe. usual prize and trophf list of Tlie Manawatu Club, should lead to tin: increased entry list, and perhaps a_ record show. Local exhibitors sliouM “now prepare for keen competition in .all classes.

The financial statement regarding the-Young Bird Show, as ' presented to the Manawatu Club the other evening, showed tlia.t a distinct advance on last year’s efforts had been made. Mr A. E. Burgess, the secretary, was congratulated on the success of the effort, and, he in turn thanked the committee for loyal support, without which the Show could not have been successful. CONDITIONS IN AUSTRALIA. An Australian writer says:-—The higher returns from eggs during February and March give grounds for general satisfaction, as indicating a return to better times for the poultry farmer. It is, however, important that the student of the industry should look for the underlying causes bringing about this result. On October 25 last it was shown that the production ojj eggs, both here and in Great Britain, was falling off, and it was anticipated that, owing to that reduction and to.the better economic conditions, a return to more remunerative prices should take place in both countries. That lias followed as a matter of course, and our exported eggs have made, better prices than for the previous year. This, together with the slackening. in local production, has combined to bring about the desired result. When it is considered that the conditions had re’ached such a stage here that nearly 2000 persons in the board’s area had given - up poultry keeping during the 12

months, and that the process, judging from the many fair-sized farms that have sold off during recent months, is still going on, it is small wonder that prices have improved. It is true that the arrivals of eggs on the Egg Marketing floor have' shown a tendency to increase the last few weeks, but it should not be forgotten that-this is probably due to the extra pullets resulting' from the innovation of eexing, not to an increased number of poultry keepers. Nor is it any criterion that it is anything more than a temporary spurt due to more pullets coming on to lay, perhaps on a smaller number of farms.

The next thing to remember is that the economic conditions of the State (New South Wales) have so improved as to induce an improved rate of consumption and thus warrant higher prices. Truth to tell, had not such an improvement come as it has, the rot in the industry must have continued and become accentuated. It is to be hoped that the bottom has been reached in this respect. The real test of the situation in respect of better returns will” come, however, not now, although the indications are good, but in the flush season of production and of export, when, unless first-grade eggs rise to more than Is a dozen or the cost of feeding is reduced (which is unlikely), the position for the poultry farmer will not be materially altered.

THE EGG POSITION IN ENGLAND

Owing to the fact that so much depends upon tlie prices realised in Great Britain for our exported eggs, the position of the egg trade there becomes of vital importance to Australian producers. According to published figures, the position there is not materially different from that prevailing here; low earnings and better economic conditions generally have apparently combined to check expanI sion in the production of eggs, and I even to reduce the output. True, imI ports froth countries other than the ; Dominions, including Australia, show I I a 5.5 per cent, increase, but even that | I does liot balance the falling-off in the j number of birds under six months of j age, which in England is said to he j [5.1 per cent., and in Scotland 7.9 per j cent. This is ' the second consecutive 1 year in which a reduction in stock! has been recorded there. All this is' regarded as showing definitely 'that the increased production in evidence .in Great Britain each year since 1919 has now been halted, and apparently from the same causes as have operat-, ed to bring about the same result in • Australia. This is evidenced by the falling-off in exports last year from ( the three largest exporting States. j EGG LAYING. I MASSEY COLLEGE COMPETITION, j The following art the second week’s results of the sixth egg laying contest conducted at Massey Agricultural College,' Palmerston North.

1 TEAMS RESULTS. Section C. (All W.L.) S. D. Morris—lo 76 8 9 10 (251-50 S. G. Batten—6 8 7 9 8 10 (25)—48 E. Eeob, No. 2—9 8 3 10 7 10 (26)—47 E. B. Wainscot t—7 5 6 5 10 8 (19)-41 E. Ecob, No. I—9 6 11 0 7 5 (21)—38 A. E. Knowles—4 9 2 8 8 7 (24)—33 J. T. Hazelwood—7 4 3 7 5 6 (18)—32 C. L. W. Urquhart—4 8 0 9 3 6 (19)—30 J. Graham —1 10 8 4 4 2 (16) —29 E. W. Thompson—o 10 8 4 4 2 (13) —28 D. M. Peck—3 4 8 1 4 7 (14)—27 Cotswold Poultry Farm — 6 1 7 7 0 9 (14)— 25 Mrs B. B. Andrews—4 8 2 1 1 5 (11)— 21 Miss H. Keddcll—3 3 2 0 6 7 (13)—21 Penrose Poultry, Ltd.—9 0 2 1 4 0 (11) — 16 , Mrs G. E. Sewell—3 5. 3 0 0 0 (7)—11 • M. Stephenson—2 6 0 0 1 2 (4) —11 jJ. J. Faulkner—o 8 0 0 0 0 (s)—B I A. E. Salisbury—o 2 6 0 0 0 (5) —8 J. Wilson—o 0 4 0 0 0 (1) 4 ■PI. Poison—3 0 0 0 0 0 (I)—3 I A. J. Dudson—o 0 0 0 0 0 (0)—0 SECTION D. A. E. Salisbury, A.O.

SINGLE PENS. SECTION A. G. E. Moody, W.L 9 7 11 A. G. Mmnbv, W.L 1 6 11 2 b 11 F. Ecob, W.L w . 5 10 Miss 11. ,v Koddoll, W.L 2 6 10 R. M. Smith, W.L 1 5 10 A. G. Mmnbv, W.L 3 4 9 Rangiuru Egg Ranch, W.L. 3 5 9 .1. Reilly, W.L. ,.. 2 5 9 Mrs C. A. Stratford, W.L. ... 4 9 A. E. Salisbury, W.L 2 4 9 Miss H. Keddcll, W.L 1 5 8 J. Reillv, W.L 1 5 8 J. A. Annan, W.L. 4 7 J. Mold, W.L 5 7 A. G. Mmnbv, W.L '4 4 7 Rangiuru Egg Ranch, W.L. 1 2 7 E. 13. Wainscott, W.L. * 3 7 Mrs B. B. Andrews, W.L. .:. 4 6 A. A. Hoarc, W.L 1 3 6 2 3 5 Miss E. Ladd. W.L." 5 5 H. Poison, W.L 0 3 • A. E. Salisbury, W.L 3 3 3 M. Stephenson, W.L. 2 2 Rangiuru Egg Ranch, W.L. 2 1 1 0. H. Barker, W.L 1 0 0 2 0 0 • Moreland Bros., W.L 0 0 F. H. Paddy, Min 0 0

R. M. Smitli, W.L 2 0 0 A. E. Salisbury, W.L 1 0 0 C. L. W. Urquhart, W.L. ... SECTION B. 0 0 T. Dowthwaitc, B.O. 2 6 11 3 5 11 F. Seymour, B.O 6 11 J. H. Sutton, A.O, 6 11 John Walker, A.O 5 10 Norman Ross, B.O 6 9 A. E. Salisbury, A.O 3 6 8 T. Dowthwaite, B.O 1 5 7 R. Feist, R.I.R 2 2 7 R. M. Smith, B.O 2 7 R. Foist, R.I.R 1 3 5 A. E. Salisbury, A.O 2 0 3 1 2 2 G. A. Edge, R.I.R 0 0 J. D. Rowlands, R.I.R 0 0 Mrs Norman Ross, A.O 0 0 W. A. Larsen, A.O 0 0

1 ' 9 10 11 5 5 11 (301—51 Cotswold Poultry Fain i, A.O. 9 9 i 9 2 9 9 (25) — 47 I J. B. Dutliie, No. 1, B.O. 1 6 8 9 ) 12 0 10 (21) - -45 1 Luke Fletcher, B.O. 1 3 12 1 0 10 10 (15)--36 ; a. Thomson, A.O. i 10 3 2 0 11 7 (18)--33 j. B. Duthic, No. 2. B.O. 9 7 0 0 13 0 (16)--29 j. B.' Dutliie, R.LR. 2 7 4 1 i o : 11 (14)--25 W. A. Larsen, A.O. 7 9 0 0 8 0 (13)--24 Mr •s R. Willcrs, B.O. 6 0 11 0 6 0 (14)--23 W. Fletcher. A.O. 0 2 6 0 8 4 (7)--20 Mr s D. M. Waddell, B.O. 0 12 0 0 7 0 (11)--19 F. A. Detvlmrst, R.I.R. 0 10 0 2 0 0 (8)--12 Bli: ss Bros., R.I.R. 1 0 4 0 0 5 (4)--10 T. J. Grese, B.O. 0 0 0 0 - 3 0 (2)--3 G. A. Kdge, R.I.R. 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0)--0