POULTRY PRODUCERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25797, 19 March 1945, Page 6

POULTRY PRODUCERS

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MEETING

LACK OF FOOD SUPPLIES A meeting of the Provincial Council of the Otago and Southland Registered Poultry Producers' Association was held in Dunedin on Friday. The subjects discussed included the present shortage of poultry foods, the improvement of stock, present and post-war marketing, and the report of the delegates to the National Conference. Present by invitation were Messrs T. Gill (New 'Zealand Poultry Board), B. Challis (internal marketing division), and L. Jourdain (poultry instructor). The president (Mr D. Christie) was in the chair. A Serious Position Reviewing the poultry food position, the chairman said that Mr R. McPherson (the Wheat and Flour Controller) had discussed this subject at the national conference. The position was serious. The industry had priority of supplies of bran and pollard, but it was doubtful whether the present ration could be maintained. The national conference had agreed that producers who over-registered their flocks, thus securing more than their share of rationed food, should receive severe treatment. Warrants for the purchase of wheat had been released to producers in the Oamaru district. Mr L. Neil said that Southland s most urgent need was wheat. Mr H. Whyte, manager of the Egg Floor in Invercargill said he had been forced to restrict the supply of wheat to one sack at a time to even the largest producers. Mr T. Gill explained that rain was delaying the harvest in South Canterbury, and 'much of the wheat arriving in store was out of condition. The requirements of the flour millers had to receive first consideration. He added that the importation of flour, instead of wheat, from Australia would mean a reduction in the ration of bran and pollard, as every 10 sacks less of wheat gristed meant four sacks less of bran and pollard. Regarding the meat meal situation, Mr Gill said that members of the Pig Council and the Poultry Board had approached the Minister of Agriculture (Mr B. Roberts) with a request that the embargo on the export of liver meal should be retained. The deputation had been sympathetically received The Government's policy, Mr GUI added, was to do everything possible to maintain the numbers of poultry in the Dominion at the present standard. Poultry keepers should assist the conservation of food by the culling of all unprofitable birds. „ „ i. Egg Marketing Council

It was explained that the national conference had approved the setting up of a national body, separate from the Poultry Board, to deal exclusively with egg marketing. The conferenece had recommended that the election of representatives on this National Egg Marketing Council should be carried out through the provincial councils. The Poultry Board would continue to deal with food problems, stock improvements, rehabilitation, and all matters coming within the province of the Department of Agriculture. The Minister of Marketing had given his sanction to the setting up of this organisation. Members of the council paid tributes to the efforts of their representative on the board (Mr Gill) to improve the system of egg marketing, and elected him their representative on the new body. Mr Gill expressed his gratification and said that no one regretted more than the members of the Poultry Board that elections by all producers could not be held. With the passing of the Poultry Federation the machinery for the conduct of an election had been destroyed. A new Act was now being prepared, however, and it was hoped to have this measure brought before the House. It was agreed that during the proposed visit to Dunedin by the chairman of the board, the board should be invited to conduct the election of six representatives to the provincial council from a general meeting, of registered poultry keepers.