FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22629, 18 January 1937, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO

THE OSTRICH INDUSTRY Government support was promised to assist the promotion of an ostric.i industry in New Zealand •">" years as:c ■ The following letter to Sir George Ore.' from the promoter of the project appeared ii: the Nkw Zkalanu llkkalj of January 18, 18-87 : —• "1 purpose, not merely as a |n amateur to introduce one or two pairs of birds, but intend in an unexceptionable, busiuesslike, substantial manner to enter upon the industry from the outset by importing some 5U to tu ostriches direct from South Africa, which in itself cannot fail to claim the merit of being an absolute and powerful effort to establish the industry on no mean or insignificant basis. At- you so opportunely observed, the introduction of the ostrich into New Zealaw would be to lay at the door of every farmer an industry that would otter i"' v ' sources of wealth and prosperity. Ihe importation I purpose bringing will ( ' ou " stitute a nucleus wheretroni to raise stock for the extension and distribution of the enterprise throughout New Zealand. and it must be of much greater value than it at first appears, considering the heavy export duty of £'loo pel ostrich and £5 per egg which the Government of the Cape Colony has imposed."'