THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 32

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. INCREASED EXPORT OF EGGS URGED. WELLINGTON, March 7. The eighteenth annual conference cf the New Zealand Poultry Association was opened to-day. The president, Air W. JS. Green, of Christchurch, presided over a largo attendance of delegates from z all parts of both islands. The balance sheet for the year ended January 31 was adopted. The honorary secretary and treasurer (Mr G. H. Bradford) reported that the Eosltion to-day was that the association ad no liabilities and had a credit balance of about £39. Appreciative reference was made to the efforts of Mr Bradford in wiping off the overdraft of about £3OO during the year, and for the first time in many years showing a credit balance. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Bradford. In his presidential address Mr Green thanked the Government, and particularly the Department of Agriculture, for the assistance it had rendered the industry during the year. “ We are very fortunate,” ho said, “to have such a sympathetic minister as Mr O. J. Hawken to study the interests and foster the poultry industry, and Mr F. C. Brown and his staff of instructors who are only too willing to help in every way. I would like to draw the attention of delegates to tho fact that it is not good policy to ask the Government to let in any product duty free that can be produced in our own Dominion, as it is not consistent to ask for protection for our industry on the one side and Freetrade on the other, and I believe that if both primary and secondary industries had better protection New Zealand would be in a better position today. Another matter that must at all times be one of the main factors is organisation. This, I am pleased to say, is making headway in the South Island, as two new societies have linked up and paid their levies, namely, the Canterbury Egg Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd., and the Dunedin Egg Suppliers’ Association. There seems to be a weakness in the North Island, and it is for this conference to try and work out its salvation, for if our industry is going io grow so must organisation. Export is a matter that must be gone into at this conference, as in my opinion, with the increase in the number of pullets raised, unless export takes place from the four centres there will be a big surplus of eggs and prices will recede accordingly. We have the machinery ready, we have had the experience, and our own judgment says that export must take place, but let the whole of the Dominion do its share. I would like to stress the point, although I do not like speaking about what the South Island does, as I belong to the south. I think delegates will agree with me that the past flush season has been the best season the South Island has ever had, but in the North Jsland prices have been lower. Eggs to-day are lower by 4d per dozen all over New Zealand than they were this time last year, and this is all due to there not being any export. The South Island is quite willing to do its share of export, but it will not do it at its own" expense to put money into the pockets of producers in the North Island. If the North Island cannot export it would be only fair to them to organise an export fund to subsidise the societies in the south that would export, and bring them up to the stay-at-home parity. >. The Alayor of Wellington (Mr G. A. Troup) extended a. welcome to tee delegates. He said that tee poultry industry was a most important, one, as it represented some £3,000,000 per annum to tee Dominion. It was estimated that there were about 4,000,000 fowls in New Zealand, and he saw no reason why a large export trade should not be built up. He could not see why protection should be put upon wheat if ft were going to hamper the growing of pork and fowls. Sir John Luke, ALP., said that New Zealand should grow wheat for all requirements, and if this could not be done supplies should be, obtained from other portions of the Empire, and adequate provision made for storiiig imported wheat. Air Av. H. Field, M.P.. said they had heard for years that fowl feed was too dear, but perhaps the reason that poultry farmers did not do better was because marketing of their produce was not organised as well as it might be. He had been assured that if the industry were properly organised there was no reason why the Dominion should not be exporting £16.000.000 worth of eggs each year. Aly F S. Pope. Assistant Director of Agriculture, said that poultrymen had a very good friend in the Minister of Agriculture (Air O. J. Hawken). who took the keenest interest in what might be termed the smaller primary industries. His -department did not want to see a lot of people rush into the industry. They preferred a steady development. The duty which had been placed on the importation of egg pulp would help the industry in the Dominion, and he hoped scon to see a reduction in the price of fowl feed. He regretted that there had been no export of eggs from the Dominion to tho London market last year. It was essential for success that there should be a continuity of that went out of New Zealand overseas should be a credit to the Dominion, and they should see to it that all eggs shipped to London were carefully selected and graded. Mr F. C. Brown (chief Government poultry instructor) said that the association had done a monumental work fcr the poultry industry of the Dominion. They had had many hard battles to fight.' Tho returns had shown that about half the inhabitants of the Dominion kept fowls, tee average flock being about two doses,

URGED.

and yet very few of these poultry farmers assisted the association iu organising the industry. They had birds in New Zealand equal to anything in the known world, and in knowledge of the industry they were not so very far behind. Ono of the best things the association had done was to bring pressure upon the Government to put an embargo upon the importation C SK pulp. The industry was one which would assist the struggling small settler to reduce the cost of living. Mr R. W. Hawke (Christchurch), who represented Neiy Zealand at the World’s Poultry Congress at Ottawa in July last, stressed the importance of continuity of supplies on the London market, and regretted that New Zealand had not sent any eggs Home last year. He had attended the poultry show in London last year, at which 7000 birds in single pons had been exhibited from every country in the world with the exception of Australia and New Zealand. He sincerely hoped frat tlie Government would assist to pay the expense of sending a shipment of New Zealand fowls to the World’s Poultry Congress to be held in England in 1930. Mr J. Sclater (Wellington), in the course of his remarks, told the members of Parliament present that he could not see why it should not be made an offence for merchants to sell rotten eggs. Inspectors took action if diseased meat,. milk, or fruit were exposed for sale, and ho thought this should certainly apply to the sale of eggs. This would protect the honest merchant. LICENSING POULTRY-KEEPERS. WELLINGTON, March 8. The Poultrymen’s Conference decided tp-day to hold its next conference in Christchurch. The Government is to be asked to make it compulsory for all poultry-keepers selling eggs to be licensed on similar lines to the vendors of fruit and inilk. As an advertising medium the Government is to be asked to pay the expenses of a shipment of fowls to the world’s poultry conference in England in 1930. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. WELLINGTON, March 9. The poultrymen’s conference decided that the necessary steps should be taken to export the surplus for the coming year after providing for the pastrycooks’ local requirements, the orders to be in by August 30. It was resolved to request the Health Department to enforce the regulations in regard to the sale of rotten eggs on the same lines as those applying to the sale of meat, fruit, and milk. Mr Green (Christchurch) was re-elected president and Mr F. H. Cooper (Welling, ton) vice-president. The Executive Council was elected as follows: —Mr Roberts (Auckland), Mr Hutton (Otago). Mr Bates (Wellington), Mr Anting (Auckland). Mr Liggins (Christchurch). Mr Jones (Otago); secretary, treasurer, and organiser, Mr G. H Bradford; auditor, Mr Brown ; Deputation Committee—Messrs Cooper, Bates, and Mumby.