DINNER TO BIRD FANCIERS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1932, Page 15

DINNER TO BIRD FANCIERS

VISITING EXHIBITORS TO SHOW.

ANNUAL NEW PLYMOUTH EVENT

New Plymouth poultry, pigeon and canary fanciers gave their annual complimentary dinner to visiting fanciers at the Winter Show buildings last night. There was a good attendance of local and visiting fanciers presided over by Mr. H. J. Hall, president of the New Plymouth Poultry Club. Mr. ’Walter Jones proposed the toast of the Taranaki Metropolitan Agricultural 'Society in the unavoidable absence of Mi’. S. G. Smith, M.l’., who had proposed the toast for several years. As a poultry club they had learned to. respect the society of which they were a part, Mr. Jones said. Though it was a dinner to visiting fanciers it was an opportunity to honour. Mr. H. C. Sampson, the president. The society was improving every year and this year was no exception. He felt that with Mr. ■Sampson at the head everything was all right for the future. He hoped the brotherly feeling between the society and the club would continue in the future. !' ■ '

Mr. 'Sampson, in replying, said he thought the name of the secretary, Mr. W. P. Okoy, should always be coupled with the toast of the society, for he was the driving force. He thanked the poultry club for its assistance to the show. The display was a credit to the whole of Taranaki. As long, as the members took the interest in the club that they did there was no doubt the club, would prosper and the .society with it. •

The toast of the judges was proposed by Mr. W. Scott. The judges had much to put up with, but had given satisfaction that day, he said. Mr. J. Nixon had judged at the show 22 years ago and he was still giving his services. Mr. Nixon had shown great, courage as a judge. Messrs T. Koig, H. Nightingale and R. Rae had also performed their work with great care. Mr. Nixon in replying urged the extreme need for a complete revision of the conditions under whk'- the poultry industry had to bo conducted in New Zealand. There was something wrong when Great Britain paid £26,000,000 for foreign eggs and New Zealand received only £4OOO. He remembered being able to buy butter in Taranaki at 3d a lb. It was only through fostering the dairy industry that it had been brought to the position it was in to-day and by fostering the poultry industry thj same result could be achieved. New Zealand had the finest climate in the world for raising fowls and there was a plentiful supply of wheat in ’ Australia, but one of the difficulties was that wheat that was sold at Is lid a bushel at Adelaide cost 7s 6d at Auckland. Fanciers should not wrangle over prizes at shows but over conditions of production. They had to produce more eggs. Mr. Doig said he thought they should be more advanced in New Zealand than they were to-day in the poultry industry. There was a lot in egg production to be improved, and he intended himself to see if he could not have some of the conditions bettered.

Mr. Rae said be was very pleased with the exhibits in the canary show, which ' were nearly doubled. Soon the society would need greater accommodation if the entries continued to increase.

(Proposing the toast of the visiting fanciers, Mr. Hall said the show could not do without, the support of outside fanciers. The club endeavoured to do its best to give fair treatment to visiting exhibitors. Mr. A. J. Davey, Stratford, assured the club that the members of the Stratford Club Were always keen to exhibit at New Plymouth. What Air. Nixon had said about egg production was correct. Poultrymen had to organise themselves into a body that would be able to approach the Government. The export trade should be further ahead than it was to-ilav.’

Mr. E. M. Galvin responded on behalf •of Hawera breeders, and Mr. J. L. .'Fisher on behalf of those, in Taumarunui.

Other toasts proposed were' (‘The Ladies,” Mr. J. Mclntosh—Mrs. J. AlcInfosh; “The Press,” Mr. H. McNeill.