POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13091, 3 June 1913, Page 4

POULTRY INDUSTRY.

INCREASED DEMAND FOR EGGS

(Special to Serald.)

OHRISTaHURCH, this day. In an address .fa-farmers, Mr J. B* Merrett) .said., one. .oi, the. mqpt promising industries in - New**£ealand to-dav was the poultry industry. Recently the Government passed 'an Act*' that* will pi.-o-hibit the use of imported dried alburrfen and yolks- 'of eggs. foWiiiaking pastity. Guetard. powders: and . i baking powders also were to be labelled, so that housewives might know there was none of., the .elements of- eggs- contained in them. These measures, said^Mr Merretty would mean . an. increased demand for eggs, and it was to the farmer-vthe cQn- 5 suniers Would look for supplies. Can* •;"ter*bury could easily double its produc- 1 tion of extra chickens -hatched and raised if .better -attention: were given td. poultry. No fewer 7than 2,000,000 extra eggs would be required next year, and farmers should seek to meet the demand; or • else there would be an agitation to have the Act repealed. The great demand * for ■- eggs 'in-', summer- for confectioners' preserving pur poses would lead to an increase of. flocks whose eggs would be ayanaJble in the ivinter. and so, better • stipply ihe public at a reasonable price; ■v/i-The price of eggs is almost prohibitive this winter, v continued Mr Merrett; "while table -poultry to be short in -supply. *The sudden cold weather in April put hens off laying early this year, and consequently eggs have been scarce.- We have been accus 1 tomed to have eggs at 2s a dozen for a week or. two in the year, but this year they have remained at 2s fpr several Weeks.. The high prices for .eggs and table poultry are a call to the farmers and their -wives ■to give poultry-raising more attention; aiid to* tnakje it a profit-able-adjunct to farmjng. \,

'"Recently," said 'Mr Merrett, "a, farmer's daughter : had drawn £17 fot , a week's sale of table poultry, while her taking^for the year from her flock of, i. poultry were nearly £150, more than ] •half of which- was- profit: ' Canterbury^ could easily add £10,000 annually to its ( iriCome.' 'W greater' attention to its ' pbultt-y." 7 -■ ■•■: .'■'•""■ ■■■ ' j