POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14972, 20 May 1914, Page 12

POULTRY INDUSTRY.

PRICE OF FEED RETARDS

PROGRESS

(er-Ecm, ?o "the γ-kesp.")

WELLINGTON, May 19. Speaking to'a reporter on the present position of the poultry industry. Mr Massey (Prime Minister) stated that some years ago Parliament objected to tho very large expenditure that was taking place in connexion with that industry with apparently very little return. "At that time thcro was an establishment at Auckland where Iho birds were dressed and made ready for export at the public expense. 'That ha 4 been closed down Gome years ago and,the only other chango that ' had taken place was the closing of tho ,Burnham poultry farm. Now the Government was considering the "establishment of a poultry farm near Christ* • church. ■

Speaking generally the poultry industry is doing well, cays the Prime * Minister, but it has . been somewhat handicapped during tbe last two years by the high price of feed. In tho North Island j. very large area that was previously ased for growing maize is now being , utilised more profitably for dairy farming purposes. In Canterbury and Ofcago there is much less wheat grown than was the case five or six years ago. The consequence. is that the-cost of feed has risen considerably.