POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 248, 17 September 1936, Page 15

POULTRY NOTES

MEETING OF PRODUCERS (By “Brooder.”)

At tiic monthly meeting of the New Zealand •Producers’ f ederation, Mr G. S. Gates, Wellington, a member of the New Zealand Poultry Board, gave a talk on the activities of the board during the year. Mr W. T. Jones, in introducing the speaker, said they were closely watching operations and hoping all the time tor definite action. Mr Bates said the board was continually under fire from all sources as to what it had done, was doing, and intended to do. All must bear in mind that the powers of the board were strictly limited. There was a great deal of truth in the statement that the Registration Bill was a blank cartridge, most of what was constructive having been taken away, ere the bill became law. They (the board) could only organise the industry in accordance with that law, and they could not bring down schemes for the control of marketing. They had, however, always fought for such powers and the whole spirit of the organisation was to improve conditions lor producers. The speaker referred to the negotiations now under way with the Government for the orderly marketing of eggs and the schemes propounded, in connection with marketing control. The No. 2 scheme of produce control was the accepted desire of the board. He and other members contended that there was a definite demand throughout the North Island for producer control, and they were able to assure the Minister of this. Asked wiiy the board, now that there was delay, did not themselves institute a scheme, the speaker said strong representations to the Government were continually being made. It now had sufficient time and should be able to say when it would bring down legislation. If the scheme was to be of value it should be in operation before the next “flush” season. /“ le next step was definitely with the Government, to formulate legislation on the lines suggested. . The scheme proposed was definitely a compulsory one. Mr Bates said he had no faith in voluntary schemes. He had seen them tried. He was aware of what could be done by merchants working together, and gave instances ; of how in Wellington a firm, in con- ' junction with others, had been able to 1 stabilise the market for quite a long ’ time, not only in preventing prices 1 falling unduly fast, but even steps to increase the price at one time were 1 halted, it being thought that this in the end would be injurious. There was, however, no fully successful piece-meal way of controlling the market, and until powers were given by the Government they would be at a standstill. A question asked : If they can control our wheat price, why should they not as quickly control the price of our eggs ? Ml- Bates said his hope, and the board’s wish, was that the scheme would go through quickly. The speaker then went on to deal with other matters, the proposed Stock Foods Bill being mentioned. He said that when the last Government wanted to set a maximum quality standard it could do it quite easily, for if pollard was above a certain standard approaching wheatmeal extra duties were imposed. But, regarding the minimum quality, action was slow to materialise. The Bill, though, was going to help very considerably in keeping brands up to a certain quality. Many other aspects of the industry were dealt with, including export, chilled eggs and poultry registration. Regarding chilled eggs, at present there was a loophole in that the regulations stated that only eggs “for sale” had to he stamped. The board was fully alive though to the need for alterations, and these would come. Mr Bates also called attention to the need for poultry producers who employed labour to take action in forming an organisation for furtherance of their interests and to meet the situation which had arisen because of recent legislation. He was aware that the number of producers who employed labour was small, but it did not need many to form the nucleus of an organisation. As to export, never had the controlling authorities worked under such difficulties. There was a continual change in the movement of vessels and their ports of call going on, and this was impeding progress. Speaking of chick sexing, Mr Bates said the hoard was fully alive to the necessity for watching this very closely. In Canada no egg-sexer was allowed to go out before he had had three years’ of continuous practice. Mr J. H. Kissling moved that a letter be sent to the board asking for some protection to be given to those who had obtained their certificates tor operating next season. Ho said lie sensed the unfairness • there was in allowing the foreign element too much liberty in the egg-sexing sphere. A request was also made by Mr Ivisshng that the board be asked to make provision for more examinations at the end of this season, when more chicks were available for practice. Mr Bates promised to bring the matter before the board. A vote of thanks to the speaker and the chairman brought the meeting to a close

A COMPLAINT

A letter was received at the above meeting from the Manawatu Traders Welfare Association regarding a complaint about the number of stale eggs on the market. The co-operation of the federation was sought in a scheme whereby all eggs should be stamped with the name of the producer. The chairman asked for suggestions, voicing the opinion that if grocers bought anyhow and anywhere, they must abide by the resalts. Mr Kissling, however, thought that the suggestion regarding stamping should be sent forward to the board. Grocers very often must take eggs against accounts, and it was reasonable to think that they should have protection, if possible. Members thought that a system ol general stamping would be too expensive, but Mr Bates said that lie thought something could be done if there was a sufficient liumlrer who could materially influence the market. He knew places where there was a definite demand for the guaranteed egg, and always for these a better price was secured. If properly done, the extra cost was very small. Another speaker said that stamping eggs was fairly general in Australia, with good results to those who practised it. It was resolved to send the suggestion forward to the next district council meeting.