POULTRY CLUB

Southland Times, Issue 19512, 11 May 1922, Page 7

POULTRY CLUB

ANNUAL RE-UNION At the annual meeting and dinner of the Southland Utility Poultry Club, in the Federal Rooms last evening, Mr F. W. Burwell presided in the absence of the president, Mr John Thomson, who was unable to be present owing io ill-health. Apologies for absence were also received from the Mayor, Mr J. F. LiHicrap, Mr J. Miller, honorary veterinary surgeon to the Club and Mr A. Peat. There was an attendance of about 25 members and a very pleasant social evening was spent. Several toasts were honoured and a very enjoyable musical programme was supplied. In proposing the toast of the Poultry Industry, the chairman stated that the industry had passed through a very critical period since the beginning of the war, and more especially during the last three or four years. In 1917 the price of feed had increased considerably and had remained high until 1921. The indications at present were that a reduction would take place and the outlook for the industry was more promising. The price of eggs had certainly appreciated, and in 1914-15 the average price had been from 1/3 to 1/3s. In the year before last the average had reached 2/- per doz. as compared with 1/8$ for last year. He did not think that the price of feed had any bearing upon the price of eggs, which depended upon the quantity upon the market at any one time. Nothing he knew suffered so quickly from a glut in the market as eggs. Referring to the competitions conducted by the Club, Mr Burwell stated that their chief object was to stimulate breeders to produce birds which would lay prolifically through the winter months and so enable breeders to reap the benefit of the high prices. The science of breeding poultry by competitions had reached a very high standard. Now that the single bird test had taken such a firm hold in the Dominion, it would, no doubt, result in raising the standard of the birds, but he could not help thinking that it was not altogether wise to have discontinued in testing of birds in flocks. The president of the Club, Mr Thomson, had informed him that it was in the minds of the members of the executive committee to run single bird tests in teams of three, that was to say that each member of the club would be able to enter three birds which would be tested in single pens. He, the speaker, thought the idea an excellent one. He would also like to emphasise the importance of the table poultry industry, and expressed the hope that the Club would consider the question of establishing a plant in connection with its competitions at Kew, whereby the public of Invercargill would be able to get really first-class table-birds. This might be a profitable investment for the club as there were several directions in which these birds might be turned to good account. Mr A. Pro van, in reply, stated that in order to make a success of the industry it was necessary that it should be conducted on good lines and the competitions held by the various clubs throughout the Dominion were doing a great deal in this direction. Several other members replied to the toast and principally confined their remarks to the question of single bird tests. Mr Grimsby, who for the last few years has been one of the most successful breedera in Invercargill and Christchurch, stated that the advantage of the single bird test was that a breeder was able to tell which were the good birds and which were not. The toasts of Kindred Clubs, the prise winners and the musicians were also honoured. ANNUAL MEETING In moving the annual report and bal-ance-sheet, the chairman congratulated the committee on the satisfactory result of the year’s working. The profit disclosed by the balance-sheet showed the efficiency of the management. It was, however, to a large extent due to the subsidy granted by the Government that the Glut, had been able to secure a credit balance. If representations were made it might be possible to obtain a grant again this year. As a consequence this year would probably be a crucial one for the Club;' which would require to be carefully managed The motion was seconded and the bal ance sheet and report, which was as follows, were adopted:— ANNUAL REPORT ‘The profit on the working account of £52 13/-, against £l7 17/4 laiit year, is very satisfactory. Th© feed account, £156 11/- is £92 10/1 less than last year, and eggs averaged 1/8$ per dozen against 2/0} last year. Total eggs laid, 4707 5-12 dozen; last year, 4386 dozen. Feed per bird for fifty weeks amounted to 11/10, or just on 3d per week. It cost Bsd worth of food to produce one dozen eggs. The gross return per bird amounted to £1 8/7, leaving a surplus of 16/9 per bird over feed Since our last annual report was published we have lost, through removal to Dunedin, two valuable members of our committee in Mr James Strang, last year’s president, and Mr Charles Thomson. We wish them every success in their new spheres. During the year nine birds out of the total of 280 died, and ii. each case an examination was made by Mr John i Miller, M.R.C.V.8., and copies of certifi- , cates of death forwarded to owner of bird. , The committee desire to place on record | the valuable services rendered by Mr Miller. The final instalment (£75) of the Government grant has been received, and in future we will have to depend wholly on ourselves. Each year it has been getting more and more difficult to get entries for the six-bird competition, so for this year we decided to do away with this competition and depend solely on single birds, and getting 115 entries proved that the committee’s action was the correct one. The cost of altering the pens amounted to about £4O, and we are very pleased with the manner in which Mr D. Shaw carried out the alterations. From reports received, our buildings compare very favourably with any others in New Zealand. Mr Morris’s pen put up a record for the Club with 1511 eggs for the fifty weeks. Mr Charles Thomson’s single bird’s performance, with 303 eggs for fifty weeks, was a splendid one, and both these members are to be congratulated.” The election of office-bearers resulted as follows: President, Mr John Thomson, vicepresidents, Messrs F. Grimsby and J. McNeil; hon. accountant, F. W. Burwell; hon. veterinary surgeon, J. Miller; secretary and treasurer, A. Ellison; committee, F. Williams, L. Burgess, F. D. Aitken, A. E. Morris, A. Ross, E. Neilson, R. E. Huffadine, J. B. Taylor, C. Double. T. Stratton, H. Petrie and J. F. McCulloch. A vote of thanks was passed to the donors ef special prizes.,