FANCIERS FRATERNISE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1931, Page 12

FANCIERS FRATERNISE

POULTRYMEN’S ANNUAL DINNER.

ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE YOUNG

Visiting fanciers were the guests of the New Plymouth Poultry Club at the annual dinner last evening in the winter show buildings. After the dinner, provided by the ladies’ committee of the Agricultural Society, a short toast list was discussed. Mr. H. J. Hall, chairman of the committee, presided. After the loyal toast the Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Labour, proposed the health of the Taranaki Agricultural Society. He congratulated the society on having carried into effect its determination to again hold, the show this winter. He wondered, if the people who enjoyed going- to the show realised the amount of time and money the president and officials of the society sacrificed in order to carry out the show so successfully. Visitors who had experience of other shows had expressed gratification at the marked improvement in the .>now. • He also remarked on the asset the society had. in its ladies’ committee, who were doing wonderful work. As the Agricultural Society had been responsible for interesting the boys and girls in the work of the agricultural clubs, Mr. Smith suggested that the Poultry Club should endeavour to establish something of a similar nature in connection with poultry-raising so as to encourage boys and girls to take up bird, fancying as a hobby. It would provide a competition for boys and girls who through physical infirmity were unable to take up root-growing or calfrearing. In responding, Mr. H. C. Sampson, president of the society, expressed, the hope that the boys and girls of the present day would carry on the work of the society as had Mr. G. V. Tate and others. There, was no doubt the society would then prosper. He agreed that it would be a splendid, idea if something on the lines suggested by Mr. Smith could be done, for one could not start too early on the right lines. At present the poultry-raiser was “up against it” owing to the high cost of food. Mr. Smith had been battling, so far unsuccessfully, in an endeavour to have the cost of poultry food and also the price of bread reduced, but it seemed a problem that none of the politicians were able ‘o solve. He recognised that the wheat-growers were up against a hard proposition, many of them having gone on to the land at peak prices, and Ff there werj a great reduction they would be pushed off their farms. No doubt that was why the Government was not taking a firmer stand. Farmers, however, looked forward, in the near future to some reduction, but no doubt it would, not be a great one. However small it would be appreciated, and. so would the efforts of Mr. Smith in bringing it about. Mr. Sampson acknowledged, the assistance given by the ladies towards making the shows successful and added that the aim of all connected with the society was to endeavour to increase its usefulness to the farming community, the poultry fanciers and. the Kennel Club.

“The Judges” was proposed by Mr. Eva, who commented on the thorough manner in which the work had been carried out. In responding Mr. A. C. Johnstone said that it was 34 years since he had first judged at the New Plymouth show. AU fanciers would agree that the show that day would be very hard to beat as regarded quality, and the exhibitors had certainly learned how tp feed and bring their birds to the show. He congratulated the exhibitors of the bantams, which he characterised as the finest section he had seen for 20 years. Nothing would excite a boy’s or girl’s ambition more than the bantam, and it was the forerunner of their becoming fanciers. Mr. E. James, the utility judge, remarked that there were some exceedingly strong classes, the birds, showing improvement each year, so that no second-rater could possibly win. The birds were fit to win in any show in New Zealand. The standard, set had improved the utility bird until it .was now equal to any exhibition bird in a dual purpose class. ■ Mr. Purton, the pigeon judge, who was making his first visit to the show, said that never had he seen the tickets placed on the winning exhibits, so promptly. The quality of the exhibits would be very hard to surpass, the best bird being one of the finest he had ever handled.

Mr. G. Fleming, the canary judge, gave some valuable advice on the breedimr and showing of canaries. , °‘Visitin<r Fanciers” was proposed by the presi<fent, who extended a cordial welcome to them, remarking that there were more visitors present at this show than for some time, while it would De seen that probably half the birds staged were owned by, visiting fanciers. Messrs; A. J. Davey (Stratford) and E. M. Galvin (Hawera) replied. Other toasts were “The Ladies,” proposed by Mr. J. K. Hawkins and responded to by Mrs. T. Smellie; “The Press,” proposed by Mr. A. B. Meiklejohn, and “The President.”

During the evening the chairman, on behalf of poultry fanciers, extended a welcome to Mr. Walter Scott, who had not been taking an active part fn the affairs of the club during the past two or three years owing to ill-health.