THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1734, 26 April 1913, Page 14

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

« (By Chantecler.)

Well Done, Mr. Nixon. Australian writers nro generously bestowing praise on Mr. Nixon for the rocord ho lias produced in Now Zealand. Some of them are inclined to believe that Mr. Nixon has Australian stock, and to those are ascribed the record. "Hardshell" says: "South Australian breeders heartily congratulate Mr. Nixon on his success. He has been a game trier for several years, and deserves the splendid win. In bis case hard work and perseverance have had their reward, and our men are sincerely glad to see him reach the top. It doesn t matter the worth of a brass farthing whew; the winner comes from. A good man is a good man anywhere, and all fjemiino breeders will congratulate tho. New Zealander on his great record. In behalf of South Australian breeders I say, "Well done, Mr. Nixon, and may yon never look back."

The writer continues:—"At Papanui the the birds were kept ill scratching pens in the winter months, and as the result of tlio warmer conditions were able to squeezo out enough extra eggs to give them the liouour of producing a new .record. The 1559, at Roseworthy, was got by liens that were in an open run, exposed to the weather throughout the year, and all the other big scores mentioned were also made in open yards. Had the lioseworthy pens enjoyed the same conditions they might have laid another 50 eggs', or they might not. The difference in conditions is mentioned, in order that readers may know all thero is to know, and not with tho least idea of detracting from the value of the record put' up by tho magnificent New Zealand birds. Another point, is that the New Zealand competition -Iras privately conducted by a poultry club. No State official was connected with the fixture, and it is probable that some amount of scepticism as to' the accuracy of the new record will be encountered, which will be hard luck for Nixon, whose birds are evidently of such class that they would make a rocord under any form of management. It is, of coursc, too absurd to suggest, that only tho Government conductors are honest men, but the fact re--mains that the records-made under State management are regarded with greater, confidence by the public ,tl)an are the figures from privately conducted competitions. It will bo real hard luok for Nixon if the public should continue to take this view, but tho 1001 from the Indian Runner ducks in Now South Wales, tho 158!) in So".th Australia, and the 15G6 in Victoria (both by Leghorns), which were all got under State management, should have the effect of securing the acceptance of the new record. Let, us all hope so, in the interests of the Dominion and of Mr. Nixon. Mr. Nixon Explains. "Mr. AV.. A. Nixon's .'White Leghorn champions, that established a world's record of 1632 eggs in twelve months, wero winners of the eighth egg-laying.competi-tion of the, New Zealand Utility Poultry Club. Australian impers, while congratulating Mr. Nixon on his win, are asking for information as to their breeding. "Hardshell," a wall-known South Australian waiter,-says:—"l know positively that Mr. Nixon made purchases of South Australian stock at the time our birds were at their top, and it may be that the Papanui birds are their descendants. If tho editor of the "New Zealand Journal' should happen to read these' notes, I ask him to ascertain the.breeding of the-pen and give it in his next issue. Not for fiie purpose of glorifying South Australian breeders unfairly, but to give them the credit of producing the original stock if such honour is rightly theirs. Wherever Mr. Nixon may have obtained the strain, nothing can take away from him the honour of breeding tho. magnificent birds that are so bravely battling down under; but, if South Australian breeders have had any share in tho business, ■ I. think it would be a fair thing to make the information public."

For the information of all concerned; the editor of tho "Poultry Journal" referred the above paragraph to Mr. Nixon, to which he replied: "Dear sir,—Referring to your inquiry for the exact breeding of my competition winners, I may state they are bred as stated in my form to the N.Z.U.P.C. They are a strain of birds I have worked up myself this last few yeara without any imported blood of any kilid. Practically speaking, thev are a different strain now to anything in the Australasian colonies; in fact, they are of a larger size, with great constitution. If any of your readers wish to see the 'parent stock they can see them at my place.—Yours faithfully, AV. A. Nixon."

A Victorian Expert Resigns. ■Mr. H. V. Hawkins, the Victorian Poultry Expert, has resigned his position in the Department of Agriculture. He came into conflict with his chief, and the friction that resulted was the cause of his resignation. Mr. Hawkins has been in charge of two successful competitions at Burnley. Fine leading scores, and good averages, havo been made there, notwithstanding the doleful prophecies of somo Melbourne writers that tho locality was unsuitable; too low-lying, etc. Last year the three leading scores wore 15GG, 1548, and 1539, and the average w'as so good that the adverse criticism wa^ - effectually silenced. Mr. Hawkins was in Adelaide about threo years ago, and showed an amount of energy and*enthusiasm in regard to poultry matters generally that has caused his resignation to come as a surprise to South Australians.