A POULTRY-FARMER'S COMPLAINT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2525, 28 July 1915, Page 5

A POULTRY-FARMER'S COMPLAINT

Sir,—l am a poultry-farmer in rather a big way, and am prepared to prove what I say. There is no industry in New Zealand treated with such an utter disregard for its welfare as the poultry industry. Surely it is a necessary industry, and an important oue, and could bo a great factor in the wealth of the country. In America it is worth over a billion dollars per annum. Owing to tho unheard-of price of feed, a great number of the 'poultrymen havo had to give it best and take what anybody liked to offer for their birds. Some thousands, of good laying birds have found their way to the pot, not only to the loss of the owners, but to the country at large. In the face of this eggs havo como into the country and been sold to the public as New Zealand "now laid" eggs. If the public knew what tliey were buying, ■ all right, but they didn't. They wero taken in by what seems to me false prctencos. I do not believe the people who buy eggs in tho largo towns know what a new laid egg tastes like. Tho merchant buys largo quantities of eggs when they aro cheap, say as low as lOd. a dozen, and puts them in tho cooler, and serves them out some months, after at from 2s. to 2s. 6d.

a'dozen, • new laid. Tho farmer cannot keep his eggs; lie must sell, as ho wants tho money, so surely lliero ought to bo some means of stopping tho sale of theso so-called "new laid" eggs. Unless this is done the man who produces will never get a fair price. Tho highest price I have received for eggs this winter has been 2s. 2d. a dozen. Last year, when feed was half tho price, I received 2s. sd. The fanner does not want an absurd price for his eggs, but what ho does want is to- be able to produce eggs at a fair price to himself and tho consumer. Ho cannot do this under existing circumstances. In Australia- the Government liavo seen to it that feed could be bought at a reasonable price. What has become of all the fowl wlieat, peas, maize, and barley? lias the war stopped this' stuff growing? I don't; mean rubbish, but to my knowledgo for tho last 30 years-there has been a good supply of sound grain not quite good enough for milling, or seed/ This class of grain appears to have entirely disappeared. Mr. Massey told the poultrymen some time back that lie-was getting some cheap maize. Where is it? I am paying 7s. 6d. for maize. I will not take up any more of your space, but it is absolutely certain that if something is not done to enable the New Zealand poultryman to carry on his business the country will have to depend upon imported eggs. Eggs from China and America are not cheap but nasty, and tho only-people who will benefit are peoplo the country would be better without. Eggs and poultry rank very high as food for men,. women, and children, in health and out of health, and surely those engaged in producing this food should have the same chance of gettiug a living as those producing food of less importance.—l am, etc., SHERWOOD.