POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 199, 11 May 1918, Page 13

POULTRY NOTES

(By Chanticleer.) Department of Agriculture, On Monday, fll.iy 6, the president of tho New Zealand poultry Association, Mr. I{. V. Childs, 'Vi cc -1 resident Mr. K. Gailiclinn,' Sewctury Mr. J. B. Merrott. and Messrs. jQoddington and Jlnmby waited on tl\p 'department of Agriculture and dieon.Vjed the various-remits passed at tho 'inference. Mr. Pope, secretary, Mr. Bruce, Assistant Director, and Mr. iirown, Poultry Instructor, represented the Department. The interview lasted three honrs, and proved very profitable. Many suggestions were made by the Department, which expressed itself fully sympathetic with (lit rations requests. The Auckland Poultry Keepers' Association's request for a piece (f Crown Innd for the Auckland Competition i<ns submitted, also the Otapo Egg Circle'i. request for a reduction in the rrelghlnu'e of eggs. These matters were dealt with and assigned to tho proper authoiiths. Deputation to Minister of Agriculture. At 2.50 the Minister rcseivod the deputation. Mr. Cliilds expressed the appreciation of the association in the work the Minister had (lone for poultrymen minus the past year. lie 'u omitted the remits dealing with Asiatic tags, and heavier penalties for stertliun, poultry. Mr. E. Qallichan made a rco tteuniiat the Government print and is.ue tho Dominion poultry standards, and also requested a grant for* an organises U.: suggested the grant ho made for ilirte years, after which ho considered 'one poultry-kcepera should be able to BUisert its own organiser. Mr. "Boddingtorj iiilmittcd the remits dealing with tie- m.xing of foods, and the importat'on < f pollard and bran. Mr.. Mumby dealt witn the suggested tax and the increased i rite m settings of eggs. Mr. Merrett presented tho conference decisions, on /negating n returned soldiers' settlement to the Department of Agriculture, the 1 retail pi ices of wheat, nod importation of .1 efatr and wheat to supplement the poulf.ry fotds available.

Tha Minister's Heplyj . Mr. Mac Donald stated tint the Question of imported eggu had received his closest attention. .It wau doubtful if sufficient supplies were prolueed r» New Zealand, but now the slipping diriicultics prevent cd importations it would bo. seen how far supplies would meet oir requirements. The Government during the war could hot very well d.'.ii win. these questions, which involved political uujustiui.tit.-'. unit our Allies. He was anxious to protect the poultry luduilry lu every way, and at the right tiinu La would givo the mailer further consideration. He recognised it would give the poultry industry u great impetus it imported eggs were restricted, hut at the prcient it was advisable for poultrymen lo be patient and await developments. On the question of neavier penalties he would lay the matter before the Alinistei of Justice and bco what can be done, pn the question of an organiser, the' Government could not appoint one, and the amount or grant asked tor was very substantial. lie would consider the .matter, and while lie could not promise all asked for, he felt sure there was no difficulty in the way of securing a subsidy, and it would rest with poultry-keepers to help themselves, lie would favourably consider the question for a standard, and give tho matter his best attention. On tho question' of fixation of retail pricos of wheat, this matter was already well in hanu, and ■ something would bo learned about it hetore very long. Ho agreed that tno question of returned soldiers on tho land was important, and inquiries would bo made from the Land Department to see wh.ai could be done. The tax on poultrymen was hardly practicable. It cost a great deal to collect It; in fact, it would tost as much as it was worth. The gruit-growers had asked the. Government to fix their tax, and it required a specinl Act of Parliament to do this. (Mr. Mumby hero remarked that if a grant could be made towards organisation work tho need of a tax could be dispensed with.) He agreed with the request to prevent tho mixing of offal to evade regulation uriccs, and would give the matter of poultry foods and unlysis asked for close attention. The Government was not importing Hour from Australia, and as pollard was such a high, price it was questionable if it would pay poultryniei, lo have it imported. Ho agreed with the request for importations of wheat and iuaise, and stated !hat in all probability a shipment could be secured and distributed equally in the centres if tho poultrymen organised and agreed to take delivery when the rhipment arrived. Itwas somewhat strange in the opiuion of the Minister for people- to nslt for an increase in prices for settings. People usually asked for * 1 eduction, lie would make inquiries regarding an increase in prices,-hut he did-not think it would be ■very, much, as. tho Government policy had noon to get good rurebred stock among the farmers at the cheapest rate. On tho reduction of railage 011 eggs the matter should be referred lo the Minister of Itailways. Additional instructors would be forthcoming as s-oon as suitable men could be found for 'he work. Tho Minister expressed his pleasure at having met the deputation, and assured them that all matters pertaining to the development of the poultry industry would recoive his favourable, support. Mr. Cliilds thanked the Minister lor tho time ho had given iho deputation and the hopeful manner in which he had replied to their requests