POULARY ASSOCIATION.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2000, 16 December 1921, Page 5

POULARY ASSOCIATION.

NOT A BUSINESS CONCERN

WIDENED ACTIVITIES REQUIRED

For a considerable time past it has been a burning question among: the members of commercial poultrykeepers' organisations as to whether the New Zealand Poultry Association, as at present constituted, is able to' give the different bodies affiliated to it full value for the financial support It receives from them. This matter was debated from every aspect at a meeting of the Manawatu Utility Poultry Society last evening, at which Mr W. S. Woodrool'e presided. The question was introduced to members, when the secretary (Mr T. Bruce), in accordance with his notice of motion, moved that the Society secede from affiliation to the New Zealand Association.

A point of order wa s raised by Mr A. Stubbs.as to whether all members had been notified that the matter was to be discussed, as it Involved a question of policy for the Society. It was decided, however, to proceed* with the discussion, and to ask the other branch at Levin to do likewise and to forward the result of their deliberations.

Speaking to his motion, Mr Bruce said he had moved in the matter to giv G members an opportunity of venVlating all aspects of the case, the ultimate object being to allow all or- ' ganised poultry-keepers throughout IV ew Zealand to come to some definite decision on the matter. He, mentioned that at the last conference of th e New Zealand Association In Auckland it had been decided to incorporate the Association under the Act in order to ensure that it would not become a trading organisation. 1 hat was the bone of contention. On the other hand, the Amalgamated Society of Eg-g Circles, to which they were not affiliated, was a purely business concern. That society was en- "tl deavouring to cater for the business side of the industry, in which they, who lived by it, were vitally interested. , The New Zealand Association's objects were at present purely educative and administrative. The result was that these two bodies wer e at cross-purposes. It was obvious that the activities of both should be jointly controlled by one body. While it was admitted that the Association in the past had done, a great deal of useful work for the poultry organisations, it wa s fel£ that its usefulness was greatly curtailed by the policy adopted at tho conference. The speaker pointed out that the administrative expense of a Dominion-wide organisation was very considerable. The Question then arose, "Do the present' activities of the Association, embracing no business matters, warrant the expense of keeping it in existence?" The real fact was that neither the Amalgamated Society nor the Association was doing effective work under the present modus operandi. The Association, under its present policy, certainly did not justify the expense to which it put its affiliated societies.

The proposal met with strong op-' position from Mr Win. Ritchie, who made a special plea for the Associa-' tion on the grounds that it had done extremely valuable work for the societies. At the same time, he considered that if the Association were' not prepared to include trading operations in its activities, the amount it levied from the bodies aflillated to. it should be very considerably reduced. In gratitude to the Associa-' tion for what it had accomplished for them, the Club should remain affljia-' ted. He moved as an amendment: —■ "That the Society remain affiliated with the New Zealand Poultry Asso-> ciation, provided that no levy, as was \ paid last year, is demanded, seeing, that the Association is not run as a commercial institution." Mr A. Stubbs traversed at some length the activities of the Association since its inception. It had been responsible, he claimed, for the inauguration of the egg circle system throughout the country, and had as-: sisted the poultry-men in numerous' other ways, notably in having Government instructors appointed, and fighting the introduction of Asiatic egg pulp. He argued tha,t it was not until the Association was formed that the Government had recognised the industry in any shape or form. It would therefore be base ingratitude; on the part of the poultry organisa- • tions to cast aside the men who had been primarily responsible for secur-; ing recognition of the industry, and conserving its interests. The Amalgamated Society of Egg Circles, he claimed, was not a recognised body.' and it had so far accomplished little, effective work.

Other speakers voiced varying as-, pects of the question, but the majority appeared to favour secession from the Association unless its policy were altered with regard to business optratlons. The position was summed up by Mr G. J. King, when he stated that the majority of those present appeared to favour secession from the Association" unless its constitution were altered to allow trading to come within its scope of activities. The only way to bring about the desired' effect, he argued, was to have the matter fully discussed by the conference to be held in Palmerston North in March next, and to have the Society's delegates place its -"iews in front of the Association. He therefore moved that the matter be referred to the conference, and. failing a satisfactory decision, that the Society secede from the Association and throw in it* lot with the Amalgamated Society of Egg Circles. This last amendment was eventually carried.