POULTRY INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21845, 6 July 1934, Page 17

POULTRY INDUSTRY

OBJECTS OF TIIE ACT FACTORS FOR SUCCESS ORGANISATION SCHEME DY A.B.C. Much has been said and written both for and against the Act passed last session and known as the Poultry Runs Registration Act. It is not the writer's intention to discuss the various arguments for and against which have been brought forward. The Act is actually in operation to-day and the resultant board selected. The first duty of the board will be to formulate a simple and effective scheme of organisation—ono that the important primary industry of egg production ma; benefit from with as little complicated business as possible. Any scheme put forward can only succeed by the whole-hearted co-operation of the poultry-keepers. This aspect of the matter cannot be too forcibly brought before both the members of the board and the registered poultry-keepers themselves.

Many praiseworthy endeavours in the past have failed wholly or partially to reach their goal, namely, the betterment of the industry, purely through a great lack of interest by those it was the object to help. When one observes how very beneficial co-operation has been to other primany industries, one wonders why the poultry producers are so very careless of their own interests. The old time-worn methods of go as you please will not do to-day in any business. All means of production and distribution are highly specialised in all successful businesses and this applies equally to the keepers of poultry if they are in the business to make profits. Poor Marketing

Breeders of poultry have undoubtedly made rapid and solid progress in the last decade and in this department have shown very great prowess, but at that point they seem to stop. The urge to make progress seems to stop just at the point where continued effort would overcome a lot of the difficulties from which the industry suffers. It does not sulhce to bleed splendid birds of type and laying ability. The business must be carried steadily on to the point where the product actually goes into consumption, if success is to be accomplished. Average production a bird has been greatly raised, and this has no doubt to a large extent enabled producers to carry on. On the other hand, poor marketing and lack of co-operation among oroducers have just as surely offset largely the gain from better average production. Organised poultry-keepers have worked steadily for better marketing, and as we know have given good service to producers and public alike. The number of organised producers in the past has been greatly in the minority, however, and all endeavours by the organised minority to better conditions have been discounted by the disorganised majority. Hence the endeavour to bring all into line by legislation. Under the Act opportunity will be once again extended to all poultrykeepers possessing 25 or more birds to get together and take a live interest in their own affairs. The writer reiterates that success can only come by the board bringing down a sound scheme and the producers themselves backing that scheme to the limit. High Cost of Feed One has only to move a little among poultry-keepers to learn at first hand just how precarious a living is obtainable from the production of eggs and poultry to-day. Dear feed is largely to blame, no doubt, but lack of organisation is a large factor also. Poultrykeepers cannot hope for sane wheat duties and uniform offals while they are unable to speak with a united voice. Only organisation can bring about united bargaining, and there are sufficient keepers of poultry in the Dominion to make themselves loudly heard, if they will just be determined to back tiie opportunity to organise which will be extended them.

In export lies some relief and with a little in hand to help this branch greater quantities of eggs should leave tiiese shores in future. Export should be more equitable also, with alf bearing their full share of tho cost. However, the local markets should recoive every attention and ere at efforts be made to expand local consumption. In many homes eggs are looked on as a luxury, not as a highly concentrated food of really exceptional cheapness if food value be considered. Example ol Australia

Australia has shown us to what volume export can be brought, and in this she has been aided by her low production cost. Low land values and cheap.feed, plus pluck and determination, have all gone to the making of one of the most outstanding successes the industry has known on that side of the Tasman. Feed costs in the Dominion are unjustly high and are kept at their absurdly inflated level by our wheat growers preferring to give foreigners any benefit of an abundant harvest rather than allow any benefit to accrue to Dominion poultry and pig producers. Such a state of affairs is intolerable and should .not be borne. . At the same time the present wheat position amply illustrates what can be done by strongly organised prpducers. It therefore naturally follows if ono industry not organised is to be bled white bv another which is organised, then organisation of the former must bo purely a measure of self-defence. Viewing all sides of the question, the organising of the poultry industry is going to be no easv matter and good brains will be required on the board. Unstinted industry frill bo necessary and much propaganda will need to be circulated. Question of Cost The board will do well to remember that there will be scores of critics waiting opportunity to destroy. Whatever scheme is brought down will need to be as inexpensive to producers as possible consistent with service, and no opportunity should be given to criticise on the score of cost. The writer has seen several associations commence auspiciously, and later disappear merely on account of the cost far exceeding service. The small egg and poultry producers greatly exceed in number the large flock owners and this alone makes organisation difficult. It is verv necessary that organisation should be as inexpensive and simple as possible Due consideration should be criven the views of those who have had considerable past experience in organising the industry to tho extent to which it lias been carried. This has been mostlv done at heavy cost to these men while all have reaped the benefit. The board's task will need all its thought, courago and determination. The producers can make the venture by loyally supporting the board's effort, or mar it bv standing aloof. Tho success of the scheme is really in the hands of tho producers themselves.