GISBORNE POULTRY FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10222, 3 December 1904, Page 4

GISBORNE POULTRY FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

A general meetng of tlie above was held in the Farmers' L-lub rooms Last evening for tlie purpose of adopting rules and transacting general business. Theru wer« present : Messrs F. A. Ford (in the chair), T. Morrison, Walker, Hyde, and Bain (acting secretary). Apologias for non-attendance were received Iroin Messrs Campbell-Thomson, H. Bennie and Ranger (secretary). Mr D. 1). Hyde, Government poultry expert, wrote: "In reply to yours of the 13th inst., 1 have to iniorm you tliat the graders receive £3 per week, and tho providing of suitable premises to be used as a depot would) also be at your expense. As the Department agree to pay railage or boat charges to the nearest depot, your best plan would be to consign to the Auckland) depot any birds suitable for export." A letter was received from Mi Gray, manager of the New Zealand Dairy Association, Auckland, stating tliat they did not do business in poultry, and were sorry they coulcll not give any information on the subject, but suggested tliat the. Government Poultry and Egg Department be written to. Messrs A. Tooman and Co., Auckland, wrote on October 22 ndi: — "We are in receipt of your favor of the 13th inst., contents of which liave been fully noted. Both poultry and eggs liave been ruling at very high prices liere for some time past, and the latter are realising at tlie present time 8d to BJd per dozen at auction. If they are shipped here, we would advise their being well packed hi clean chaff, in ordinary common cases, as ilie trouble and expense hi returning the ordinary cardboard carriers would thus be avoided. Poultry of all kinds lias been selling at high prices here during the last seven or eijght months, and at -extreme rates during the past two months. \ Common old hens of only moderate quality have been averaging 2s 3d to 2s 6d l>er head, wliile really good and wellconditioned young roosters have been averaging 3s 6d. Turkeys have ranged from 5s to 14s, according to weight and condition. At } r esterday's sales the market showed a slight downward tendency, being 6d per lieadl less than, the figures quoted above, and ruling rales were Is 8d to Is lOd for ordinary hens. We believe that from Is 7d to Is 9d, or even 2s, would be the prices for hens for some time to come. Young roosters always bring good prices. Regarding shipment of crates, it would be adtfisable that these should be, made strong, in order tliat they may be returned from time to time. Crates arriving in Auckland with poultry could, be sent back by the- same steamer, reaching Gisborne on Sunday, and the account sales for both poultry and eggs would go forward by return niail. Trusting tliat we may be able to do business in the. line referred to, to our mutual advantage." Mr Morrison remarked that according to the. letters neither of the firms solfl by weight. "Mr Bain said they were asked when written to whether they sold by weight; but that point had been omitted 'by the two firms. The forming of the Association was tlvj main object; the trouble was to get the rules. Some hesitation occurred whether the meeting should! adopt the rules framed by the Committee, as theve was such a small attendance. Mr Morrison thought thev should proceed with the meeting andl adopt the rules as soon .is possible, or lie was afraid the Association would fall through. The Chairman said he had been advised by Mr, Lysnar to proceed! wKth the adoption of the rules and to get the Association into working order. Mr Bain said he wanted some information as to who were tlie poultry farmers in the district, so he could circulate copies of the rules when adopted. On the motion of Mr Walker, seconded by Mr Morrison, the rules as produced were adopted. Mr Morrison proposed, and Mr Walker seconded, that the subscription for the first year be ss, payable oiithe 7th October each year. — Carried. Mr Morrison _kraght they should get a list, of members at once. The best means of procuring the names of those likely to become members would be from the auction marts. The secretarv was instructed to draft a letter andl forward it to those likely to become members. Mr Morrison said that in sending the circular they were asking the people to accept the rules. Mr Bain saidl they should send out a copy of the rules also, but the Chairman thought the objects of the Association would be sufficient. Mr Hyde thought the general meetings should be notified! a few days before each meeting, so as to give the country members time to attend. The meeting terminated! with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.