POULTRY INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1935, Page 3

POULTRY INDUSTRY

HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT.

ADDRESS GIVEN AT HAWERA.

The history of the development of the poultry industry in New Zealand to its present high pitch of efficiency was out- - lined by Mr. C. Cussen, chief Government poultry instructor, in an address at Hawera on Wednesday night. He could not tell them when the first poultry birds came to New Zealand, said Mr. Cussen. The early poultry keepers were fanciers, breeding to a standard adopted by English fanciers. Those early enthusiasts spent a lot of money on their birds and were well organised. The first poultry show at Christchurch and one of the earliest in New Zealand, was held in 1868. Associations were formed which set a good example for future organisation. About the end of last century those at the head of the movement realised that there was more in it than growing birds for their plumage and merely for show purposes. So the production of eggs for human consumption had its birth. Th’e first poultry expert, Mr. J. A. Henderson, was appointed by the Government in 1897, and the speaker had a copy with him of the first bulletin issued by Mr. Henderson. A perusal of it gave one an idea .of the vastly different conditions existing only a comparatively few years ago. Mr. Henderson died soon after his appointment and Mr. D. D. Hyde succeeded him in 1898. Soon after that the Government instituted a poultry farm at Moumahaki, near Waverley, where there were 14 varieties of fowls, three of ducks and a number of bronze-winged turkeys. Many of the birds were imported from England, Australia and American. Three other stations, two in the South Island and one near Auckland, were also established. Eggs of the light varieties were sold for 5s a sitting and of the heavier varieties for 4s 6d. At that stage encouragement was given to the growing of poultry for table purposes by the engagement of four graders from Australia. Export depots were opened at each of the four centres, and the Government paid railage on suitable birds to the nearest depot. They were plucked and graded at 4d per head for fowls and 8d for turkeys. The attempt to build up an export trade in table birds was not as successful as it could have been and the depots were closed. It had been found that local markets were the best for table poultry. In 1992 Mr. F. C. Brown was appointed assistant to Mr. Hyde. He had later become chief instructor, a position from which he had recently retired, and the speaker had succeeded him. Mr. Brown had done a tremendous amount of work for the industry, said Mr. Cussen. FIRST COMPETITION. The first egg-laying, competition in New Zealand commenced at Blenheim in 1905. In the next year the first competition under the auspices of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club was held. To show of what benefit the competitions had been to the industry Mr. Cussen said that the average number of eggs laid per bird , in 1906 was 147, while in the 1933-34 competition the average was 222 eggs per bird. The first conference of poultry producers was held in 1910. Eggs were first exported from the Dominion in 1923. Previously Asiatic eggs to the value of from £60,000 to £70,000 were imported to New Zealand annually. After the war an embargo was placed on that importation, the poultry keepers claiming that they could supply the country’s needs.' Two and a-half years ago the importation of foreign eggs ceased, and to-day New Zealand, from being an importing country, had became an exporting one. The Poultry Runs Registration Act was passed in 1933, and the establishment of the Poultry Board had been the result. Branches of the federation had been and were being formed, and he urged those interested to get behind the movement and give every possible help. The Department of Agriculture had a great deal of sympathy with the fanciers. He advised them, therefore, to develop their shows as much as possible. Stressing the importance of breed characteristics, Mr. Cussen said that when selecting birds they should look for purity of blood, vigour and constitution and capacity to produce and reproduce. He urged them to keep the quality of the birds strong and that of the eggs good, to avoid overcrowding, to keep the ground sweet ,and clean and to provide for good ventilation. “The department is out to do all it can to help the industry along,” said Mr. Cussen. in conclusion. “If you want help you have only to ask for it.” Mr. Cussen’s address was given at a social evening arranged by the Hawera Poultry Club. Heavy rain affected the attendance. He was welcomed by the president of the club, Mr. G. C. Harding, and by Mr. E. M. Galvin on behalf of the poultry producers, Mr. A. Hopkins on behalf of the Minorca club and Mr. G. Gaylard on behalf of the Taranaki Egg-laying Competitions Society. During "the evening items were given by Miss A. Whyte (songs), Misses D. Swadling, D. and J. Pinson (instrumental trios), Miss N. Nixon (elocutionary items) and Mr. Eustace (pianoforte solos). Miss J. Pinson was the accompanist.