THE Waikato Independent. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1907.

Waikato Independent, Volume V, Issue 328, 24 January 1907, Page 4

THE Waikato Independent. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1907.

We are well aware that statistics to the average reader are an abomination, but there are times when a few figures, even in the columns of a newspaper, are useful, and we venture to give the following quotation from “ Life,” of October, 1905, as indicating the importance of the poultry industry in America. The writer says “ According I to Government authority the eggs and poultry earnings in America in one recent year amounted to 280,000,000 dollars, or something like sixty millions sterling. . . . . The hen eggs produced in this country annually would fill fortythree million crates, each holding 360 eggs.” In plain English, the greatest product of the great continent of America is its poultry and eggs. Is there any good reason why this colony should not also make this one of its principal industries ? We think not, for large portions of New Zealand are admirably adapted for the purpose, and the experiments that have been tried clearly go to prove that with careful management good profits can be made at the business. In this connection it is interesting to note that the Chief Government Poultry Expert, in his report for 1906, says ; The poultry industry is still growing satisfactorily. Last season there were raised on four poultry farms near Auckland 27,000 head of poultry, and all those interested express themselves well satisfied with the financial results. One farm raised 11,700 chickens and ducklings last season, 10,000 of which were sold at 6d per lb. live weight to an Auckland firm for local consumption.” The report goes on to point out that 560,000 eggs and 61,000 birds were handled by the Department last year for export, and that private firms handled fully as many eggs and birds as did the Department. Perhaps nothing has done so much for the poultry industry, both for Australia and New Zealand, as the egg-laying competitions which have been in operation for the last few years. These competitions originated with the Hawksbury College, N.S.W., in 1902, and have been held extensively in all the Australian colonies and in the South Island of New Zealand, with the very best results. Perhaps no more convincing proof of their usefulness can be given than the following figures, published by the Hawksbury College management. The following compares the results of the first eight months of the five competitions:—

1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 Highest aggregate 8 months 713 952 815 1002 1040 Average per pen, November 84-5 94 - 4 102 93 95-4 Average per pen, 8 mouths 525 G7G 001 701 741 From the above it will be seen that the productiveness of competing birds has been increased more than 30 percent. —a truly remarkable result. Apply this selection of strains to the egg production of the whole colony and what an enormous gain would result. Up to the present time no competition has been held in the North Island, although for two seasons the Auckland poultry men have had the matter under consideration, but were met with various difficulties, which caused them to abandon the project. In the meantime a few of our Cambridge business men have recognised the importance and advantages of the matter, and have initiated a competition to be held in Cambridge, commencing on Ist May, 1907. The venture takes the form of a small limited liability company with a share capital of £3OO, and we are pleased to learn that considerably over £2OO of this amount has already been subscribed, and the Directors are now only waiting to place the small balance of shares before calling for tenders for the erection of the pens, yards, etc, Apart from the advantages of this competition to the poultry, business, it has many distinct advantages for our town. The fact that the weekly results of the competition are made known in every paper of any importance, in this and the Australasian Colonies, is in itself no mean advertisement for Cambridge, while it can scarcely fail to attract many visitors to the place. The management also hopes to demonstrate that this locality is peculiarly adapted for poultry and egg production. In fact, the venture is one that should receive the hearty support of all well-wishers of the place, and every facility should be given to those who are inaugurating the movement to make it a thorough success.