POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 169, 6 April 1918, Page 15

POULTRY NOTES

(By 'Chanticleer.")

The Conference. The eighth annual conference of the New Zealand Poultry Association was a most successful gathering. Each year the association's work grows in importance, and evidence of the interest taken was seen in the presence of delegates present from all parts of tho Dominion. Ibe attendance of poultrymen located-in Wellington was not so good aB it should be, but this is accounted for by the lack of organised societies. In Canterbury, Auckland, and Otago, organisation is further advanced, and great interest iB taken in poultry matters. Tho attendance at tho conference meetings did not exceed fifty and most of them were delegates and visitors from a distance. The conference did most, useful work. A number of the poultry-keepers were inclined to I view the position in a pessimistic spirit, but it was soon demonstrated that most of those present were,of a hopeful nature, , and discouraged anything in the nature of complaint. When one considers the cost of foods, in most parts of the world, | and the difficulty poultry-producers have in ohtaiuing supplies, New Zealand poultrymen are fortunate both in the price of foods, and the selling prico of eggs. Seasons have occurred years before tho war in -which grain has been considerably dearer and eggs considerably less in prico than they are now. To some people the war offers a timely occasion to complain. It becomes natural. People who would once face a difficulty now shudder at the prospect. However, their fears soon dissipated at the conference as soon as it was demonstrated that > the industry was being developed on every hand. One gratifying feature was the unstinted praise accorded to tho Government for the work it had done .during tho past year. There are some people "agin the Government," no matter what good, work it may do. It was pointed out that in tho fixation of t.he wheat prices alone some thousands of pounds was saved tho poultrymen this year. Providing a maximum price for rotailing pollard and bran was another good scrvicc that had been done. On the matter of Asiatic eggs, the appointment of an additional instructor and several other important matters, tho Government had been fully alive, and extended all the help It possibly could. On the question of food supplies it was felt the Government could liave dono more, but on its being shown thai owing to the strike Tn Australia, and the Bhortage of shipping, New Zealand had closed down its mills, and had- only a threo -weeks' supply' of flour in the Dominion, the members became more amenable and expressed their appreciation of tho work. that had been done. The Executive Board also came in for somo criticism, but as the. speakerß could not suggest what it could hnve dono not much attention was paid to the indictment. The remits were all thoroughly thrashed out, and the delegates showed thoy were fully posted in the essentials required for the industry. The remit asking the Government, to prevent merchants from mixing bran and pollard and selling the same as a poultry mixture to evade the gazettejd prices of bran and pollard was most important. A. standard was also asked for to which all millors could adhero in the manufacture of bran and pollard. The question of ft tax on poultry-keepers waß carried, because so many poultry-keepers were evading the cost of organisation. Tho decision lo interview tho Wheat Controller to prevent high retail charges for wheal, was a step in the right direction. To raise the price of eggs by tho Department of Agriculture as usually sold to farmers was oonsidercd a fair proposition. One speaker maintained that while the poultrynian worked hard at production the farmer who got his setting oggs cheaply, from tho Government, .generally •-went to town in his motor-car. Experimental work, help for the wounded soldiers, protection from imported egg pulp, printing of circulars for poultrymen. Betting aside a pronortion of free wheat for poultrymen, heavier penalties for stealing poultry, the issuing of a utility poultry standard were all important matters that made the conference an important gathering and enabled useful work to ho done for I,ho industry. Mr. H. W. Childs, Kainp.nl, the newly-elcctcd .preflideut, Is essentially a producer,.lis lie has an up-to-date plant and 1500 head of "poultry.' Mr. J. Calder (Oitmarii) was successful In taking first, and second prizes in the egg-laying test-at Papanui. This Is a most, unique win. and the first-time it has been accomplished.