THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2156, 23 May 1914, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

1 (By Chanteclcr.)

Utility Poultry Club's Annual Meeting. Tbo annual meeting of tho New Zealand Uiility Poultry Club was held in tho club-rooms on May 19. There was an excellent attendance of members. Mr. G. Willis presided. Tho report stated ;— Tho year just closed has been a very successful ono in more ways than cue. Thero havo boon some innovations, and by continually breaking new ground it is hoped tho competitions will continue to reccivo tho support that has been accorded during the past. That our competitions aro boing closely watched is evidenced by tho numerous* inquiries received, not only from all parts of the Dominion, but also from Canada and Australia. Finance We aro pleased to report the excellent financial position of the club, as will bo seen by the balancetsheot The amount received for eggs (£411) is tho second largest sum received during any poriod of twelve months sinco tho inception of tho club. At an early stage of tho year we wero fortunate in securing a big line of wheat at a considerable •saving as compared with tho prices obtaining later on in tho season. During tho year a considerable sum has been spent on improvements, which has added to our assets, and tho balance at the bank has also been increased over that of last yeat.

Tim Studholme test figures arc higher in the aggregate this year as compared with others, owing to the- points for show being raised to tho maximum of 20 points for the best specimen. In previous years about 80 points lias been the highest number obtained, whereas in this test they reach about 90. At tho last Christehurch Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Club's show, five gold medals wero presented by tho Utility Club for competition among its members in tho -utility classes, and they havo been repeated for the coming show, the judges for which havo been graciously appointed by the Fanciers' Club on tho recommendation of tho Utility Club. Special Committees. At an early period of the year an Educational Committee was set up which has dono valuable work. On tbo suggestion of the committee, show pens and platforms wore purchased for -the holding of small club shows, which havo been tho means of educating members in the requirements of tho standard. A' lecture was delivered by Mr. H. D. Acland in tho'Boys' Gordon Hall on the subject of "Co-operation as Practised in Ireland and Denmark," which drew a large audience. Tho success of tho lecture was in part duo to tho assistance rendered •by members of tho Boys' Gordon Hall Poultry Club, who kindly sot aside their evening in order to provide tho hall for tho lecture. The Education Committee has in hand a list of publications from the Superintendent 'of Publications at Washington, U.S.A., 'which is being considered with a view .to scouring a list of publications likely .to bo of 'service to members.

; Another important committee which lias dono valuable work is tho Disease Committee. . Tho demands _ made on tho members of that committco havo been constant and arduous, no month having' passed without considerable demands being made on their time. It is no disparagement on .tho other mom'bcrs.,,of, the committee to. record tho ■ splendid services rendered on that committeo by Mr. R. W. Hawkc, much of ,tho{:.r.eporting aiid dissecting having falle'h : upon his shoulders. To his reports tho club is greatly indebted, and members '• must havo received great benefit from tho thorough manner in Hvhich ho has reported the various ca'ses under examination. , Tho reports from

the Government veterinarian on diseased specimens forwarded for examination on the suggestion of Mr. F. C. Brown, in which ho made eulogistic reference to the Disease Committee, must havo been very gratifying to them. Tho committee were instructed to draft an autopsy chart for sending' to competitors upon whoso birds post-mortem examinations have been held. The matter is still in the hands of tho committee.

Members cannot fail to havo been impressed with the excellent reports that have been issued periodically by tho Reporting Committee. These reports havo been a sourco of gratification to distant competitors, who have expressed themselves in very favourable terms. It is hoped they will be continued. Tho list of broodies gathered month by month by Mr. A. E. Wilson has been of much interest, not only to competitors, but to intending purchasers . It is to bo regretted that tho Standard Committee has been unable to. make much progress with tho revision of tho standard, owing to tho great demands mado upon their time, and also the difficulty of arranging meetings. A serios of articles on the standard, contributed to tho "Poultry Journal" by your president, and upon which several complimentary references were mado, evoked considerable interest in the standard. It is to be hoped that tho revision of tho standard will be prosecuted with renowed vigour during tho comhig year.

Laying Records. We cannot refrain from mentioning the splendid records mado in tho twoyear tests, both fowls and ducks, tho winners eclipsing all previous records of the test, tho performance of the ducks being especially meritorious on account of tho lino eggs laid throughout. Although the twelve months' record made the previous year has not been allowed to stand for long, the two-year test has produced a total ' which should stand for some time. Numbers of eggs alono have not been tho only object sought, as will be seen' later on by the new rule adopted. Although no records have been mado in tho annual test iust ended, tho general averago has been well maintained, and had it not been for tho sluggish laying of tho heavy breeds in tho early stages, tho previous year's averages would have been passed. Two important new rules have been added, tho first relating to birds suffering from ovarium troubles. Thcso_ aro now to bo considered as being incapacitated from laying, and are to bo returned to tlieir owners. Another new rulo adopted provides for birds laying eggs less than Hoz. for one month continuously to bo also returned.

American Markets. ' The past year will bo memorableamong pmiltrymcn, as being tho year during which the export of eggs to Vancouver has demonstrated tho possibility of the export trade. It was at the invitation of the Egg Farmers Association that the club was privileged to tako part in that- shipment which turned out so successful. Wo had the pleasure of meeting one of the Panama Canal Exposition Commissioners, together with Mr. Clifton, who is to be New Zealand's representative there, and listening' to a short address from Mr. lTsillsmitli, the Commissioner, on the advantages to bo derived from being reprosonlod at tho Exposition. In December last the club invited the Government to supervise the comTiotitions and certify to the records, and in March Messrs. Studholme ami Hawke. wore appointed delecates to interview the Agricultural Department, after the executive had previously met representative of Mm Department, m conference. It'is to be. regretted that. .After having tho assurance of tho De-

partment that they would give tho proposal their favourable consideration, we are now mtui'mcil that they aro unable to comply with our request. Another matter for regret is tho action of tho Government in rc-moving tho proposed restriction on dried egges. • An important change has been made in the present competition by its division into two sections, and it is' hoped

that, it will bo the means of greater attention being paid to the heavy breeds h.v the poultry public. For the pttrposo of creating rivalry between the iwo sections. Dr. C. J. HusseJl Ims

kindly donated a£3 3s. cup. Ifi this connection wo beg to remind yoii that tho committee for tho same requires to bo sot up, and we trust- the- matter will not bo lost sight of.

EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS-

Tlib official results for the sixth week of the Now Zealand Utility Poultry ■ Club's tenth laying corfipctition. for fowls for the woek ending 'I'ucsday, May 19j are as follow:— LIGHT BKEEBS. Total Total for to week, elate. W. Mercer, W.L 9 18 Verrall Bros., W.L 15 82 Dominion P. Plant, W.L, & 32 Heretaunga P. 0., No. 2 W.L 13 83 Glencbe Poultry Ranch, W.L ~„ 24 136 W. ,0. Sail, W.L 0 1 A. R. Browne, W.L 11 59 Mrs. J. Mills, W.L 23 129 G. Clarke, No. 2, W.L. ... 13 32 Rangiuru Egg Ranch, W.L. 13 72 G. Bonnott,"'W/L 16 136 D.-Y. Gibson. W.L 25 130 Reliable P. Farm, W.L. ... 21 116 Wainoni P. Farm, W.L. ... 24 1.06 J. Wordsworth. W.L. 27 HI IT. S. Woodnorth, W.L. ... 5 8 H. F. Herbert. W.L. ...... 0 32 11, Legcr, W.L 10 41 T. M'llwraith, W.L :. 16 49 T. White, West Shore, W.L -12 24 T. Vose, W.L 21 84 B. P. L. Clavson, W.L. ... 20 47 R. James, W.L 14 43 N. Solomon, W.L 2G 124 R A. Lazarus, W.L ,27 142 Heretaunga P. 0., No. I W.L .*. 2? 142 Wainoni P. Farm, W.L, ... 28 01 J. W. Green. W.L 25 78 Willis and Son, W.L. 25 105 G. Clarke, W.L 26 47 J. Corrie, W.L 0 0 M. Stewart, W.L. ~,...... 3 3 A. G. Brnikv, W.L 4 4 A. W. Adams. W.L 26 317 Caldcr Bros., W.L 21 71 L. T. Wright, W.L. ..'.... 10 58 W. E. Green. W.L 13 38 W. Davcr, W.L ~ 5 .< R. W. Hawko, W.L 24 ■ 153 ,T. W. Green, R.C.. W.L., 5 10 T Krarup,, B.M. ......... 20 J8 Totalis "....,.. ~m" 2021 HEAVY BREEDS. Total Total f for itf Week. Date. T. Kennedy, W.W 10 58 J. B. Merrctt, W.R 3 16 T. Fazackorley, 8.0 '. S3 138 Mrs. J. W. Green, BI.W. ... 11 53 W. Scull, BI.W. ~.;... 15 03 R. Hunger, BI.W 22 84 Miis Rita Nixon, BI.W. ... 31 152 : Miss R. E. Laing, BI.W. ... 7 43 A. R. Browne.Bl.W.' « 38 R. Willis. BI.W 20 70 1 J. B. Merrctt, BI.W 14 .72 1 J. B. Merrctt, S.W.- ...,.'.. 0 13 1 A. W. Adams, S.W 0 2 1 .las. Ash ton. S-W 18 62 T. Kennedy, S.W. 13 fiO Thos. Wilson, S.W 13 00 W. E. Green, S.W 15 37 R. Roxburgh, S.W ■■ 6 13 Totals 233 1060 FOR DUCKS. The New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's fifth cgg-lnyftig test for (lucks. Returns for the sktb, week aro as low:Total Total for to Week, Date. T. Dowthwaite, I.R, ~ .' 0 . 0 Heretaunga P. 0., I.R, ... 21 78 Wainoni P. Farm, I.R. ... 0 0 Glencoe Ranch. I.R. 15 64 Evans and Johnstone, I.R. 7 21 T. R. Hall, I.R 0 0 Totals 43 . 163 The letters after each entry denote the breed, as Wider :—B.L., Brown Leghorn; W.L. White Leghorn; 8.M., Black. Minorca ; W.W.. White Wyandotte; W.R., .White Rock; 8.0., Buff Orpington; 81. W., Black Wyandotte; 151.0., Black Orpington! 6.W., Silver Wyandottes; 1.R,; Indian Runners.