POULTRY REGISTRATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21245, 27 July 1932, Page 14

POULTRY REGISTRATION

Sir, —The majority of poultry keepers realise that something must be done te save the industry. Some time ago one of the Ministers advised the New Zealand Poultry Association to "put its own house in order" before calling- on the Government for assistance. .After careful thought the association decided to recommend a registration'' bill to be brought before the Government. One of the aims of this bill is to put part of the money collected (after necessary expenses have been deducted) into a fund, which will subsidise the export of eggs during the flush season. According to the report of the Government experimental farm at Wallaceville, it costs lid-to produce one dozen eggs (food only), so it is very necessary to save the market from being glutted in the flush season. Have those opposing this bill any better scheme to bring forward ? All who make their living by the keeping of poultry know how critical the position is at the present time, and would welcome a better suggestion if practical. Some of your correspondents have complained about th# stamping of eggs. This is nothing new. Some years ago all suppliers to the Auckland Egg Producers' Association stamped their eggs, and the breakages were negligible if sufficient shell-making material was given the fowls. The marking with a rubber stamp was quickly done. Union is strength, and other industries have benefited by registration, so why not give it a trial ? According to its terms, the bill can, on the voto of the poultrykeepers, be repealed, after a specified time. L. H. KEALS. Sir, —May I reply to the questions raised in the letter from A. J. Fulljames published in your issue of July 21. (1) The Now Zealand Poultry Association consists of all affiliated poultry societies throughout New Zealand, and thus has a membership of several thousand. All theso societies have, both collectively through their representatives at conference, and individually at their own general meetings, carried resolutions urging the necessity of the Registration Bill. (2) I do not know where Mr. Fulljames got his idea of an " egg board floor." No such proposal has been put. forward/ There is not the slightest intention of interfering with any producer's present method of marketing eggs in any way whatever, except to require the stamping of the eggs with the producer's registered number. No one will be "debarred from selling their produce privately." (3) This question is entirely irrelevant, as the proposals aio not put forward in the interests of one class of poultrykeepcr, but for the benefit of all—large and small flock owners alike. A very little unbiased study of the proposals will soon convince your correspondent of this fact. Your correspondent . " Wide Awake " seems capable of putting two and two together to make anything lie pleases. He says if he knew how many eggs went to a case he could calculate what price they fetched on the London market. But since ail his other figures have been drawn from his imagination, why not this also? His statement that £6OO was the value of the 4000 crates of 30 dozen each exported last season is so wild that he is merely making himself ridiculous. The average selling price was approximately 50s per case, the gross value of tho consignments being about £IO,COO. His estimate that "each crate of eggs was sold in England for 3s a cralo" represents a, day dream —if ho really is wide-awake. There has been no Government- guarantco for the past two export seasons, so bis calculation of what the Government guarantee amounted to per £1 worth of eggs exported suggests somniloquence. T. 11. Evans. Auckland representative New Zealand Poultry Association. Manurewa, July 25w