POULTRY INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 17 June 1932, Page 3

POULTRY INDUSTRY

REGISTRATION SCHEME OBJECTIONS TO PROPOSAL FEES AND STAMPING 01*’ EGGS Objection to many of the details of the scheme for the registration of poultry farms was voiced hv a group of commercial poultry larmors (states tnc “N.Z. Herald”). They expressed the opinion that if put into effect the proposals would prove detrimental to many engaged in the industry. These poultry farmers said they believed in registration and were of the opinion that the majority ot poultry farmers in the Auckland district favoured the formation of an organisation for bringing the poultry i’c.mers together. However, they felt that Is 6d per 100 birds or part thereof, with a maximum of, say, JOS. would be an ample fee, as otherwise it would become too big a burden on the. large flock-owner. “The biggest drawback of Idle scheme, and one which seems to have been overlooked by poultrymen generally, is the stamping of eggs,” they stated. “This is a far bigger tiling than at first appears. It means a very large amount of extra labour to stamp, and added to this is the loss of eggs broken in the stamping which will probably be anything from 5 to 10 per cent., as the pressure of the stamp on any thin-shelled again means repacking a whole layer of eggs, anything from three to six dozen. Furthermore, stamping is no check on quality, as retailers can hold eggs so long that on reaching the consumer the freshness is a thing of the past. We urge all poultrymen to resist this -foisting of useless labour on the already overworked poulery ma n. “The registration scheme as proposed will inflict a grave hardship. Should the scheme be enforced it will involve the setting im of a central committee, morn Government officials and a secretary’s office. The incidental expense will lie considerable, and is more than the industry can stand in view ol the depression. “Should tho scheme prove a failure with a fee of 2s 6d per 100 birds it will have to he raised to 5s or even 7s 6d. At the meeting wicli endorsed the scheme the vote was "carried by men who owned less than 12 birds If the commercial poultry farmers ire to he governed by such decisions they cannot look forward to any betterment of the industry.