POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 74, 21 December 1918, Page 12

POULTRY NOTES

(By "Ohanticloer.") A Cartlcn Suburb. Mr. J. Dnrnt-eeaßsr. in a recent lecture at Chrletcliurch, ndvocates tho catabliehmeiit of garden auburbe. For his information we may say there ie an excellent epec'inien of this work at Itankstowu. 18 miles from Sydney. The Government of .\ew South Wales purchased 3CO acres for a poultry eottlcmont. The streets are laid out with an «yo t.o effect, while each EDCtion of live iicres has ita irnrdsu front nrnl only a M. batten fence bo as not to obscure it ■ from -ricw. Houeefl are built five ohnimi npiU't. and Tlnnkfltown forms one of the prettiest localitioH around Svclney tfixh' returned Boldiers nro nettleci 'there happy in their work, contented in thoir homes, jratcful to their fiovornraent. Why ennnot wo have a. poultry sctllemont for retiime<l men in WclllnEton or Wairarnpa. tond suitable for such purposes is nin.rer tnan Hcnleetown Iβ to Sydney. From the report tiven liv a member if the -Nf , " , Zealand Press rlelepitcs we find that no fwer than 87 of the convnlescciit soldiers arc atteiiaini! poultry Classen at llnrnchurih. We eiv(, (Notations-.from letters rs;:«lvcd ny Is frni" two (if the instructors by which it .will lit) men that pc-iltry-kesplnp >r Jγ mivinn the nttentlon of lour men. What a the use of nil this instruction and education unbas sorao provinion ib made for thane ran" to take un IHa -work whan they return? Why not net the settlement going now' Prom on (iconoinic point m view, it will mean much to the Eoklier, and mores to the country. Ekes a" needed and a whole year could bs saved if we got to work now., By the time the men arrived tile settlement could be Inid out, roaded. ffirras divided, cottaees orectefl, and electrically lit, water and dminnco sysiome installed, and the poultry plants on the way. Homes read:.' for .weary soldiers and their wives to eottlo i«- What better project than ttiis? What foresight and business acumen -mould be displayed, ■what encouragomerit for tho fleliUrs w the Empire. Will the Government do it? From the fnblc suppllod by the Press aeleMto poultry ntudents form one-nevontli of tho a.itricnltura.l studonte. Wliv snnnla not one-seventh of the amount allotcd in tho Kenatriation Bill for mrriculture ba allotted to the poulry Ecction? Ihe, P«turned Soldiers' Association, tlio patriotic fund committees, the progress leagues, tho chaml)L-rs of commerce, and the poultry societies should take this matter np at once and puah for the project, iso better investment could be made. >o better means of showing the, soldier we are. thinl:iiiß of him, no better opportunity to make use of Mr. Uurst-Seacor's knowledge to lay out a carden mburb. Shall we do it, or continue in indifference? Two years ago Sew' South Wales jrot its settlement goinir, and no finer sight was to be seen in Australia by the writer than the returned soldier clearing his land, aided by hta contented wiie, while tho children played under the trees and tho hens cackled their none; of profit. Conversine with ono of them, a feeling of pride was manifested as the eoldicr said: "This ilvc-aere block and its home are mine. It is my roward for my service to fight for my Empire." Questioned as to contentment, the wife replied: "I am happy here, it ia tho loveliest spot on earth." What an opportunity there is nov,- for. us to do Boinothing. Tor months we have written and work;.! for it. ami after four yeara nothing is done yet! The reports from Horncliurch nro aa under:—

Sergeant A. H. Sapper writes: "Under General Richardson's educational schema all men in the N.ZiE.P. will undergo a. course of practical training in England in any subject they wish to take up. I have been appointed poultry instructor in the southern command, and the interest in poultry is wonderful. I should Bay at least 1000 .men will attend the poultry classes in the various camps. A ve,ry large proportion of them -when they return to New Zealand will tnlte m> poultry, hooping, as the:' long for an out-door free life." '

Report from Codford: A. Peters writes— "At present I am iiistructine at poultryliecpiuß, haviiiE been selected for tho position on account of my knowledge irained in New Zealand. Sometimes I meet men who have had a little experience. I also meet others who have tried and fuilcd «t poultry-kcepiAg, but in every inetance failure has hcen the result of -want of experience. There are eopres of men hero interested in tho work, and when they go hack to New Zealand will want to take up ponltry-JieepiiiE Tor a livintr." We can only add that when these men arrive, it is only fair that something will he ready for them. To be training thesu men in England, and then for them to return and find no preparation made for them, would show a want of pratilude. Repatriation BUI. During tho discussion of the Repatriation Bill l in Parliament, Hie following telcvrani was Bent, lrom the .New Zenhiud Poultry Association:—. . "Hon. •■ Maasey, Premier, Wellington.

■ 'Poflltrymen request that in tion Hill the strong claims, of the poultry industry as a means of settlement for returned soldiers receive your attention. The industry offers uniuue. facilities for light, healthy, fixßh-air occupation, both as a means of livelihood or as an adjunct or side-lino to any other business. Australia, has Bet a slronir precedent. New South Wales alone spendiiK.' £30,000 on poultry settlements, solely for returned meii.-(Ssd.) H. W. Cliilde. president, 3. B. Jlerrott. Hecretary, New 'Zealand Poultry Association." The following reply was received—"l am in receipt of your telegram of to-day's date. You may rest assured that the importance of the poultry industry will not bo lost sight of by the Hepatriation Hoard, I am quite in accordance with views set out in your telegram, which I will forward to tliu board which ifl to be set up under the Act recently passed by Parliament — (Sgd.l V. F. Jlassey." The New Zealand Utility Poultry CJlnb is.to be ■;on(tiat.ilated on already r»i'eiviii" entries lrom J. P. Drcwilt. Tsiiinania, for two Black Orpingtons, a ,,<i on 6 White L? Khorn in the siiifle pen test. It is likely further entries -will be receiv&d from Melbourne. , The Bendiiro egg-kyine coinnetitiou h:is issued its 1919-20 schedule. All Ihe birds are to be sinclii-testod. It i< expected a few entries will be s»nt from Ghriotchurch It is noteworthy that at Bendigo eacli bird in the single test lias onlv m'x square feet in its house, while in tho Papauui test there are several advocnteu who fayour 27 souo.ro feet, for' each bird. Under the conditions the Now Zealand , birds should put up some fine records. Hy the last American moil advice wi>« received of the death of Mr. I. K. Felelf ■who died on Aiijrust 31 at the ace of ii Felch's breedinir chart is- known the world over. Few men have done so much to advance lmovrlcdge on poultry-brccdiui; as this, veteran.