Our Poultry Industry.

Manawatu Herald, 6 March 1902, Page 2

Our Poultry Industry.

A BRIGHT OUTLOOK. The poultry industry in New Zealand was never in such a flourishing position as at present, and the prospects for the future are very bright indeed. The demand for poultry for South Africa cannot be satisfied. The Agricultural Department has been advised that there is a profitable market in that part of the world for 40,000 head of poultry per month. A letter just received in the colony states at the time of writing frozen fowls were selling in Capetown at 16s per pair, while preserved eggs were fetching 8s 6d and 4s 6d per dozen respectively. Some southern firms are now shipping poultry to the Capo by way of Melbourne at a cost of 14d per pair, which is only 2d more than

they were called upon to pay when they shipped from New Zealand direct to South Africa. During the present season the Agricultural Department has sold 20,000 eggs for breeding purposes, and even then has not been able to supply the demand. At the present time there is a great activity of all the Government poultry-dressing depots. Six men are employed at the Christchurch establishment, and about 5000 head of poultry per month are being dealt with. At each of the three other centres 2000 birds a month are on an average being killed and dressed for exporting firms. The Christchurch depot has been found much too small, and the Government Poultry Expert has recommended the erection of another with six times the capacity of the present establishment .—Post.