Farming Column

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1932, Page 8

Farming Column

POULTRY INDUSTRY. SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION. REPORT ON YEAR’S WORK. The report presented to the thirtythird annual meeting'of the -South’lsland Poultry, Pigeon and' -Canary Association, held at Rangioray is as follows: — =■... . • “Thirty-six societies are affiliated to the association, nineteen of which he;d tneir annual shows as usual. We regret having to record that two prominent West Coast clubs, namely Gi-eymoutn and Waimangaroa, were unable to hold their exhibitions this year; also tiiav Grauity, Reef ton and Kokatalu wholast, year were 'compelled to cancel their fixtures, have been again, owing to, financial reasons, forced to take the same action. The conditions prevailing during the last two year's appear to have been more severe on the. West Coast Societies than on the East Coast, and any suggestions for assistance to the above clubsy so that they can hold shows during 1933, will be welcomed. “Championships to the number of liG were allotted for competition at tne 1932 shows. Competition generally was much better than, in 1931, as the following table jvill show:— A ; Results. 1931 1932 Won outright and certificates 29 31 Certificates only .... ... ~..,29 36 No entries ... 32 16 No quorum 17. 16 No shows held 6 17-. Totals ... 116 , “TJie Victory Challenge. Shield ."’as competed for .at Waimate Show, and was .won by Mr -M. J. Irving, o f Albury, with a good team of Utility Black Orpington:,Pullets. . \ ’• * ' i *’ Art Union. “The executive was again fortunate in securing a permit to use gold dust as prizes for the ,1932 art union. Fifteen clubs participated;- but the sale, -or tickets generally.. was less than, f usual, therefore the commission payable to the association is down on last year. The main object mf : ,the art union is not so much a desire to shpw a large profit as to assit ‘clubs by providing them with a means of . ensuring -themiselves against bad ..weather, at show times.

. “In last year’s report a revision of the work done in connection with, the publication of the new Utility Poultry. Standard was given, and at. that, time there was every possibility of the new. standard being ready for the past season’s; shows. TJie copy was in the hands of the . poultry instructors for final revision, but in July last the Minister iof Agriculture advised the New Zealand Poultry Association that in view-of .the financial* position no undertaking could be given to print . the Utility Poultry Standard at present. .The North Island Poultry Association has written to the ;council suggesting that the standard be published by the North and South Island] il’oultry Asf jciations,. the cost of snchito he shared equally. The council replied that, it did not feel inclined to commit fhq.,association, to such an expense without* tl\e authority of the annual. meeting, further..-that a Utility Poultry .Standard, issued , ill New Zev land lvithqnt the co-operation of the Department of Agriculture, and ifs poul,try . instructors would not b,e in. the best interests, of .utility poultry breeders. ~ ,• .. . - '. . > ■ Registration of Poultry Keepers. “In a circular letter sent to the affiliated clubs on .June. 8, 1932, the c-oun-i cil gave full details of the proposed I Bill for the. registration of poultry keepers, and: of. the thirty-three societies affiliated. to- the South Island Poultry Asociation only, five voted in favour of the Bill. Acting on the opinion of the-majority of the clubs, your council sent a . strong protest to-the Minister against poultrymen having, to rqigister. Arrangements have been made for a representative to place the-pro.-, test be n ore the committee of the. House when the Bill is before it.

''Applications were received from certain clubs to have allotted to them for competition at ,their i shows championships forfeited on account of shows not being held. One society offered to pay the - affiliation fee due to the association from one club if it. was granted its championships. The..rides of the' .association do not allow such, but the club was advised that the question would be brought before the delegates at the annual meeting for an expression of opinion on the suggestion. Poultry Association. “The North Island Poultry Association wrote, recently,, suggesting that a new agreement he entered into between the North and South Associations, controlling, affiliations, suspensions and ah matters dealing .with shows. It stated , that,' seeing .that • the New Zealand Championship Association had gftne out of existence, all clubs in the north should he controlled by it; and the South Association the same regarding show* in the South Island. The only two clubs in the South holding shows, and not affiliated, were Nelson .and |,Blenheim, and the North Association lias stated that if these two . .clubs do not affiliate with the’South Association all their members- will he debarred fromi exhibiting in the-North Island. The council • has placed- the ,facts before Blenheim; and Nelson societies, the replies received being that Nelson Club

states that .the New Zealand Championship Association is still in existence and that it prefers to remain affiliated, with .that body, and the heim- Club would , consider . the question at its annual, meeting during Oct-, bber. ;-»u me. ; . • 'V

f The balance-sheet shows receipts, including ‘ the . balance brought seaward,, of £17.6 19s 2d, , to be £327 4s 6d, the expenditure being..£l2B ,Bs. 6d, leaving a credit balance :of .£l9B 16s, The art union - account has .a credit of £l2 19s 3d. The -assets .total £328 11s 6d,. the only liability .being £3 3s for championships.” SHOW DATES. Dunedin Specialists Young Bird Club —Friday and, Saturday, March 24 and 25, 1933. . . >■ N.Z. Utility Poultry —-Friday and Saturday, March 24, and 25, 1933. Christchurch Canary. Club—Friday and Saturday. March 24 and 25, 1933. Christchurch Poultry.; Club—Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 1,2, and 3, 1933, or June 8,9, and 10, 1933. Dunedin Fanciers' Club—Thursday, Friday .and Saturday, June 8, 9 and 10, 1933. Ashburton Fanciers’ Club —Thursday and Friday, June 15 and 16, 1933. North Canterbury Poultry Club—Friday and Saturday,, June, 30, July 1, 1933.

Waimate Poultry Club—Friday and Saturday, June 23 and 24. 1933.,

Oamaru Poultry Cub—Friday and Saturday, July 7 and 8, 1933. Lyttelton Fanciers’ Club —Friday and Saturday, July. 14 and 15, 1933.

Taieri Poultry Club—Saturday, Ju!j' 1,1933..

: Tapanui Poultry Cluo—Saturday, July 8, 1933. Kaitangata Poultry Club —Wednesday and Thursday, Jvdy 12, and 13, 1933. Gore Poultry Chib—Friday and Saturday, July 21 and 22, 1933.. Inyercargill ' Poultry Club—Tuesday and Wednesday, May 9 and 10, 1933. ..Nigbtcaps—Friday and Saturday, .May 26. and 27; 3933. ; : .Wainu (Tuatnpere)—Wednesday and Tlmrsdav, May 3 and 4. 1933. Westport Poultry C!ub---Friday and. Saturday. June 16 and .17, 1933., • . Hokitika Poultry Club—Friday and j Saturday, July 14 and 15 1933. i FARMING ‘RETURNS. v SLOW CAPITAL TURNOVER. While the use of tractors, milking knachines and other labour saving, equipment and the., careful supervision qf ~laboup, throughout,... will . increase ■ 'efficiency farmers have recognised for. .themselves that some _ types of farming yie'd a ijctter return than others to-doy, w rites the agricultural correspondent, ot tho London T l mes, in commenting on an economic survey .carried,-. out by the Department, of Agriculture of the Cambridge t 'University,, [concerning -the efficiency of East Anglian farming. In the language of the- economist,, certain Enterprises .yield a higher output p e r 'unit of labour than others, ...and the • production, of such enterprises, or their intensification if already .-.-present,. will; ixicreß.se th e . labour efficiency of the farm. Compared -■ with ( other industries, agriculture. is handicapped 'by a s'-ow turnover. : d;f . capital. In the eastern • bounties, last y ea r the output avei■aged only £65 for every £IOO of farm capital, and it is evident that profitableness is clearly associated :with* th e ,./rate of turnover. Speaking generally, livestock give 'a quicker turnover . than crqps though store cattle and breeding flocks of sheep ’allow of a comparative IV 6'low turnover. Pigs, poultry and dairy cattle give a quick turnover. It is worth not\mg th»vt ih the eastern 'counties pig keeping. has developed as an important joint enterprise with corn growing. The area now carries a cleneer* pig population than any other part of. th e kingdom, and last year the income from pig sales represented over 11 per cent, of the gross income 'from all the faring. This was equal to .the return from eggs and poultry, and twice th e income obtained from wheat. ... 'FERTILISERS AND SUBSIDIES.

The National Expenditure Commission makes some drastic recommendations, on the matter of subsidising fertilisers and the rree Carriage of lime on the. railways. The cost of running the Department of Agriculture could be reduced 30 per .cent without impairing its efficiency, but the recommendation of the commission is nearer a 45 per cent reduction. Pressure will be brought to bear, on .the Government to have many of the recommendations carried into effect, and on the other side there will be ■ some wire-pulling to induce Ministers to ignore suggested econo mies. i