LACK OF UNITY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19900, 30 March 1939, Page 16

LACK OF UNITY

POULTRY PRODUCERS ORGANISATION DIFFICULT TWO NEW INSTRUCTORS ADDRESS BY MINISTER (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The department was fully alive to the possibilities of the poultry industry, but it felt there was not the same unity among the producers as there was among other sections, said the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. -Lee Martin, addressing the New Zealand Poultry Producers’ Federation at its annual conference in Wellington yesterday. In addition, practically half the population kept poultry the majority having only a few birds, and this made organisation difficult. Mr. Martin said that poultry disease research would be included in the activities of the new division of animal research under the control of Dr. Filmer. “No doubt you are aware that in many countries disease among poultry has caused heavy losses,” he said. "In this country so far we have been fairly free in this respect, but the indications are that all poultry-keepers will need to do their part if disease is to be kept in check.”

Mr. Martin said that two additional poultry instructors were being appointed. One would assist the present Auckland instructor and the other would be stationed in Dunedin, and his services would be available to Otago and Southland poultry-keepers. The officers were expected to take up their duties almost immediately. The Director-General of Agriculture, Mr. A. H. Cockayne, who accompanied the Minister, said he had placed £2OO on the department’s estimates this year for assistance to egg-laying contests. Whether the estimates were cut down or not, he intended to do his best to see this sum was not interfered with.