POULTRY CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2428, 6 April 1915, Page 8

POULTRY CONFERENCE.

DAY'S SITTING

EXPORT OF EGGS

The New Zealand Poultry Association coutimVed-'its conference ill tho Masonic Hall all. day yesterday. Mr. A. G. Mwubjr was 'in,the.chair. Practically the whole of the day was occupied in discussing and redrafting tho proposed rules and constitution of tho association. Finally a resolution was passed to the effect that the revised rules bo placed before the association at its sitting-to-day for adoption. It was decided'.'to hold the next conference of;.the association at. Wellington. Association's Constitution, The' constitution of the association was defined-as follows"Tile associar tion shall-consist of 1 affiliated associations, egg circles', societies, clubs,' and individuals hiving .for their object the promotion of "the "poultry industry of New Zealand." It was decided to define the objects and powers of the': association, as follow: — v (1) To encourage, and promote the interests of poultry-growers and ' the poultry industry iii general. . (2) To hold at least annual; conferences', print reports, and solicit Government assistance for and on behalf in all matters pertaining .to the welfare of poultry associations,' egg circles, societies, and clubs. (3) To encourage the, breeding and exhibiting of poultry and,products. (4) To encourage the adoption of uniform standards. (5).- To organise and promote a bureau of lecturers qualified , to deliver addresses on the aims and ob- •' jects of the association, and shall issue certificates thereto authorising them to announce themselves as members of the New Zealand Poultry Association Bureaif of Lecturers, and that a central bureau be established to collect records of permits and investigations and that bulletins be printed and l issued. (6) To make and- interpret rules and regulations for controlling and carrying out all or. any of the objects of the association. Export of Eggs. The report of the Export of Eggs Committee stated_ that the year .1914 had witnessed the' first organised venture in the exportation of eggs from New Zealand, and as completed returns had now come to hand it was possible to judge of the results. When the question of ' exporting was mooted it was anticipated, that such prices would be realised as would show a ; considerable margin over local prices; the reverse had been tho case, however. The outstanding feature of all the shipments had been the condition in which, they had been landed at Vancouver, and another, tho great discrepancy between prices of local-grown eggs there and those which had been .sent from New, Zealand. In regard to tho latter it was noteworthy that, at the time • preparations were in hand in New Zealand for the first shipment a cablegram was received. stating thai American eggs were selling at 50 cents, New Zealand being sold at not more than -3a cents. A great number of the eggs'when landed were totally .unfit for. uso. '..According to reports received from brokers on the other side,_ mould had formed as the result of improper temperatures and bad conditions in the .'cool chamber." This, as the report detailed, ■ had re-' suited in great loss. As a'contrast a shipment of 634 crate's of eggs had been landed in Wellington recently in' firstclass condition. The amount of break-, ages was reported at not more: than half per cent.'Three shipments had been, sent from Wellington, the prices realised being 33i cents, 12.57 d.. and ,35 centsrespectively.:.' Tb.ese, . after., paying tali charges, netted to, 'suppliers- 7fd., : 4 7-16 d., and 6i|d.—respectively V showing ' a. loss approximately of 5Jd.,» 9d., and 7d._a dozen respectively. In conclusion the report said that it was • extremely desirable that the reason for the failuro in the'ease of local exports and the success in tho case of other people's imports should be cleared up. • ELECTION- OF'OFFIGBRS.- . - _ The main officers of the club wero elected as follow President, Mr.. G. Finn; vice-presidents, Messrs. R. W. Hawke arid H. M. Boddington; secretary Mr! J. B. Merrett. The election of the excoutive board and various committees was held over until to-day. Li the/.'evening addresses were given by the :newly-appointed poultry instructors,;. Messrs. A-; E.; Sa-lsbury and C. Cussen.' '. Mr.^;Sa;lsbury : -,was' the first speaker. He gave-some interesting reminiscences of his; jSsrsonal.-''experiences in poultryfarming.' The speaker traced the great difficulties he. experienced when he first commenced, the industry, how these were overcome,-i and theigratifying results attained. Mr..;,'Salsbury showed how. these satisfactory-results had been obtained, and remarked that the future; of the industry was .very hopeful, and he felt that they only wanted men to go into tho .industry thoroughly. "The' business is right enough," added the speaker. "• ....

In answer to' a question ,as to whether in view of the high food prices it would pay to keep White Leghorn.cockerels for marketing pnrposes, Mr. Salsbury replied that he-believed that a small profit could be made. ■

A vote of thanks was passed- to Mr. Salsbury, the mover, and the seconder remarking that the Department of Agriculture was. to be congratulated on such a wise selection as that of Mr. Salsbury..

Mr.. C. Cussen, the next speaker, gavo a brief description of the methods of poultry-farming at the Ruakura institution, which ho had controlled for the past 14 years. After explaining the location and surroundings of the farm, the speaker went on to refer to the necessity of green food for the stock. Green food, said'the speaker,'was the fowl's natural tonic', and played a most important part in. the health and eggproductive powers of the birds. Of green food nothing could equal lucerne. One of the most important additions fo the farm at Ruakura of recent years, said the -speaker, was the sowing down of one-fifth of -an acre of lucerne. The speaker said that from his experience ho could not sufficiently emphasise the value of lucerne. Mr. Cussen also stressed the necessity of keeping fowlhouses in good order and clean. Tho speaker went on to deal comprehensively with incubation, and detailed from his own. experience many points essential for obtaining satisfactory resnlts. At the conclusion of his address a hearty rote of thanks was passed to Mr. Cussen. TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. The business of the conference to-da.v will include the discussing of various remits. At 2 p.m. a deputation is to wait on the Minister of Agriculture. In the evening an address will he given by Mr. F. C. Brown (Government Poultry Expert). There's not a more efficient helper to the man. on the land than the Richmond Oil Engine. Easy, safe, and reliable to work, it equals many hired hands; is always on the spot whon needed and ready to start. CBoogb the Richmond because of the many points in whioh it excels, of its 6olid construction, and allTound goodness. Ask or. write for particulars. A. J. Parton, Plumber, Carterton.—Advt.