FEATHERED FANCY

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 151, 1 August 1914, Page 5

FEATHERED FANCY

Heavy- v. Light Breeds.—The debate "Which is the More Profitable Fowls Commercially: Heavy Breeds or Light Breeds?" arranged by the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, took place at the Boys' Gordon Hall on Tuesday evening last. There was an exceptionally large attendance of the public, and his Worship, the Mayor (Mr H. Holland), presided. Messrs J. B. Merrett, H. F. Herbert, and G. Willis were in charge of the heavy breeds, and the light was supported by Messrs E. W. Hawke, G. Hoskyns, and J. W. Green. It will be remembered that a lengthy controversy took place in these columns between Mr T. Kennedy and myself on the same matter. At Tuesday evening's debate practically the same ground was again covered. It might be said on account of my previous attitude that I would be biased in my remarks. Such is not the case. If anyone can produce such evidence to prove that the heavy breeds are the more profitable, no person would be more pleased to submit to their ruling than myself. That the matter' of considerable importance, was evident by the large attendance- of the public, who took great interest in the various arguments put forward. It appeared that the debate had not been arranged on any definite lines. While the heavy-weighta referred to foreign records, the light confined its replies to New Zealand performances. The champions of the heavy breeds could not be considered a strong party, in fact I must express jny surprise at the weakness of their case.

Mr J. B. Merrett, beyond placing particular stress on the Value of the heavy breeds to the farmer, produced nothing of any value, and as the judges practically summed up, the light experts had nothing to answer. The arguments produced by his colleague, Mr Herbert, rather weakened his case. Mr Willis was the only representative of the heavy breeds to,produce anything of practical value, and as he made reference to Hawkesbury, and other foreign returns, it was questionable whether ails h ftvid'eace,should have beeiz oornatted.

It wa> r i< y; rally considered that the debate tv:>i ; * be of educational value to those interested in poultry raising, under the circumstances it would have been better to have considered the conditions of our own country, not elsewhere.

Messrs Hawke, Hoskyns, and Green, for the light breeds, produced information that made their case quite interesting. They left very little untouched, and the judges, Messrs Jeffreys, Woods, and Pearce, had no difficulty in awarding the verdict in their favour.

(By "GRIT.")

It was stated that the carcase of the heavy breed was of considerably more value than the light. Mr R. W. Hawke, in the course of his remarks, stated that the average weights of the heavy, and light breeds at the competitions were s£lb and 41b respectively, a difference of lAlb, and charging this at flesh price of 6d per lb, only made a difference of 9d in favour of the heavy variety. Valuable information.

I regret to hear of the death of Mr John Nixon, sen, of Auckland, at the age of 82. He had been connected with poultry since he was 13 years old. Several Indian Game that quite recently came this way .were from the yards of the late breeder. His son John was here a short time back for his holiday, and visited several of the yards. Mr Adam Nixon, another of the sons, is the wellknown breeder of modern game in the Auckland district. ' I understand that he will in future have charge of the Indians.

Attend carefully to breeding stock. Cockerels should be well fed, and hens not too fat, for best results.

A well-known farmer wrote: "This is undoubtedly an age of concentration, specialisation, and competition, and no man has ever been able to breed a good beef animal and a good, heavy, producing dairy cow at the same time." Likewise the poultry business.

Mr J. Cummings, of Sydenham, has had a busy time with his Minorcas. He recently sent his last year's stock bird to Mr Reid, of Masterton; a cockerel to Mr Clench, Upper Aparima, Southland; and a cockerel and pullet to Mr France, Ward, Picton. The pullet scored in a class of six at the recent Picton Show.

The question whether the Timaru Show, being held later in the season, would be of any advantage to the Society has proved that thov reined the benefit to the extent of a hundred more entries than last year. Christ-church exhibitors figured conspicuously in the prize Messrs A, and E. Walker, Nixon, G! H. Corser, -B. Pearcc, Spicer, and Wade scoring in the poultry section. Messrs J. Flewellen, A. Kilday, P. Kingsford, C. D. Lilley, W. J. Searle, and E. Rowe scored in pigeons, and Mr F. J. Watts in canaries.

The collection in aid of the Open-air Home fund taken up at the debate organised by the N.Z. Utility Poultry Club on Tuesday evening amounted to £4 16/-.