POULTRY AND EGGS FOR EXPORT

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1434, 1 December 1923, Page 4

POULTRY AND EGGS FOR EXPORT

VISIONS of idyllic existence and easy money which tempted quite a lot of people into poultry farming a few years ago were not realised. Like the pioneering days in all enterprises there was plenty of hard work, much disappointment, and consequent disillusionment. But there- are signs that the original claims on behalf of poultry farming are not so far from reality after all. The announcement that a consignment of New Zealand eggs just arrived in London is considered superior to any other imported this season opens up a much more pleasing prospect. The 1626 cases landed by the Rotorua were sold at 22s 6d to 235, or upwards of 2e 3d per dozen, and experience proves that consignment in good condition is only a matter of care. This means an almost unlimited market for those who may engage in the industry, for eggs are as necessary to the United Kingdom as butter and cheese, and during the past four years the average importation from the Continent, principally France has been vaiued at £15,707,000. It is certain that during our most prolific laying season exporters of this produce could be certain of realising something like two shillings per dozen net, and this would justify the material extension of an industry which at present is conducted in a haphazard manner except in a few districts throughout the Dominion where cheaper hard feed is obtainable. It seems to us remarkable that more is not made of poultry raising in New Zeauand, both as an egg .producing agency and for table purposes, but v/hen our pork and bacon exports are practically insignificant, though we are one of the chief dairying countries of the world, anything might be expected. It is almost impossible -to obtain table poultry at reasonable prices, unless the fowls are rejects who have completed their term of service on the farm, or are chickens which have to 'be- fattened. Poultry, rabbits and all such meat can be sent to England practically unimpaired by cold storage, but there is no record of any material business transactions in poultry, while the exportation of rabbits has developed only in recent years. While we are considering means of raising revenue by increas-

ed production and are at some pains

to discover how large numbers of immigrants may make a profitable living this question of poultry raising and pig rearing should be given more prominence.