Deputation to Prime Minister.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1830, 16 August 1913, Page 15

Deputation to Prime Minister.

Poultry farmers havo been pleased l>y the roply givon by tho Prime Minister to the deputation from tho New Zealand Poultry Farmers' Association last Monday. The request that the Agricultural Department should arrange an egg-laying competition at Ruitkura will _ enable northern poultry men to send-their pens thorn without detriment to the birds, ■avoiding the colder climate in the south. It really takes several months for North Island birds-to become acclimatised in a new province. The Prime Minister favoured the request that the competition held at Papaliui should be under Government control. Tho idea of course is to give a hall-mark to the records. Last year a world's record'was established At' Papamii, but sufficient oredeuce is not given to it by poultrymen outride New Zealand; The Government hall-mark will remedy this. Tho Twine Minister further favoured the Tequest that the Department should undertake experimental tests in respect to costs of "feeds" for heavy and light birds respectively, and alsd their relative value in respect to the products obtained. Mr. Massey was surprised to learn "that the railway charges for eggs were very muoh in excess of those changed for fruit, and held out hisrh hopes for relief in 'the near future. The request that poultry appliances be brought under agricultural, horticultural, and vitioultnral inaoliinery in the Customs classification was also favourably received.

Assistant Instructors. ■t ■ •_ One matter that the Prime Minister did not Beein to favour was a request for the appointment of assistant" instructors. He promised to look iflto.the niattor, but he thought that the Houso would not consent to an increase of tho vote in that respect, judging by its action some years ago. Many poultrymen, however, think that when Mr, Massey examines the maiter Qio may change his views. The reason Why tho House did not favour increasing the vote was because a great deal' of money was expended at poultry depots at that time iii the process ofreceiving poultry and 6gg3 for export. Tile depots, .however, are now closed, and it should bo' Tomcmbored that the One instructor (Mr.' Brown) whom the Department haa at present has saved many thousands of pounds to paiutnrliien. and the coruntry. Unfortunately, Mr. Brown canilot "get round" enough, as all the work falls on him. Protecting the Industry. : The Government art to bo commwidod for the protection they are affording the industry. The passing of' the Pure Foods and Drugs Act will do moro to foster it than any legislation of past years. It is a -well-known fact that thousands of dozens of eggs have been imported into the Dominion for use by. pastrycooks. These eggs have been proved to be of doubtful quality, and it is to protect the public that the Act lias been passed to prohibit their use. Many of tliem have come in dried form from China, where sea birds' eggs are. gathered in large quantities. These aro put through a process by which the whites aro kept separate from the yolks and dried. They then find their way to various parts of tho World aS dessicated eggs. From Germany comes another class of powdered eggs. The quality of these may be somewhat better than thd Chinese, btit still they are far behind what could be obtained locally in the form of fresh eggs. Eggs are imported by the million into Germany from Russia, and Hungaria. These are subject to the drying process, and fluid their way into different parts of New Zealand. No doubt there will be strenuous effort 'mado to amend this Act by those who have engaged in importing tfio eggs, and by .pastrycooks;;.Ts;ho: regard., their nise as a simple and inexpensive method of doing without eggs proper.