VICTORIAN EXPORTS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 68 (Supplement)

VICTORIAN EXPORTS

The exports of eggs and poultry for the year 1904 from Victoria are not what might be expected, considering the opportunities available for developing the poultry industry, (says the “Leader”). The Department of Agriculture has issued the figures, which read thus: Eggs, 45,940 dozen, value £2297. Poultry, 46,820 head, value £11,705. Com pa inn g the above figures with those of the previous year, 1903, there is a heavy failing off, which certainly requiies explanation. In 1903 the exports were: —

Eggs, 49,486 dozen, value £2473. Poultry, 119,373 head, value £29,944. Tills shows a drop in the exports of £IB,OOO value of poultry products, and, considering the efforts which have been made to build up the industry by the Department of Agriculture, there certainly .seems to be a screw loose somewhere. When the export trade was first initiated it was shown that eggs and fowls, ducks, turkeys, etc., could he landed in London in prime condition ; but from the outset the question of fmights became a serious matter. Since the butter commission evidence has been made public it looks as if there may be some hope of poultry and eggs being consigned at rates that will induce consignors to export. In the past freights have been almost prohibitive, and the producer has had no inducement to ship his products. The bush fires which have devastated so many of the country districts this sear son have been a serious trouble for poultry breeders. On many farms grass lands have been visitedJby fire, and the “picking” for poultry has been swept away. In some instances poultry houses and stock have been demolished in the flames, but where fire breaks were p epa ed and the custom airy caution taken bush fires hare not caused much

damage. I have heard all sorts of yarns about the recent fires. In one instance it was reported in a daily newspaper that a well-known station manager was scorched and burnt in his attempts to check the hr©, but the following day I saw him in the street, looking as fit as possible. So far none of our poultry breeders are reported as missing, which may be considered satisfactory.