ANNUAL POULTRY CONFERENCE

Shannon News, 1 September 1925, Page 4

ANNUAL POULTRY CONFERENCE

INDUSTRY'S DISTRICT PROGRESS In the course of his presidential ad dress ait the fifteenth annual conference of the N.Z. Poultry Association held a short while ago in Christchurch, Mr J. Liggins remarked tha: it was indeed, gratifying to be able to state that the Association, and the industry generally, had made really good progress since the last conference took place. Perhaps the nio,si important matter affecting the industry was the passing of the Poultry Act, which would ultimately have a far-reaching effect on the development of the industry. This Act provides for regulation's governing compulsory Government grading of egg.; and poultry for export, and also for their marketing in New Zealand. In addition it includes the inspection of live poultry and all places where it ia being kept, in order to ensure sanitary conditions and the prevention of cruelty and disease. Undoubtedly, this measure would commend itself to all producers,' as well as the consuming public of the Dominion. EXPORT TRADE. "Insofar as last season's shipment of eggs was concerned, the Associa tion had just cause to congratulate itself," continued the speaker. Nearly 7000 cases each of 30 dozen eggs, were shipped, this constituting an increase of 85 per cent. The superior qualiiy of New Zealand eggs was manifest when some of these shipments armed in London in such an excellent condition that the price received foi them was greater than that realised by shipments from any other country.'- In fact, some of the Dominion eggs brought a higher price than did the article. New Zed land poultrymen were justifiably proud of this achievement, wholly, or in a great measure, due to the careful and conscientious methods oi grading the eggs, carried out by the poultry instructors of the Department of Agriculture. Unfortunately, however, a large number of producers did not forward their eggs in a satisfactory condition to the grading depots, thereby increasing the responsibility of the graders. At last year's conference Mr Brown, Chief Poultry Instructor, gave the delegates an assurance that if-organised bodies, such as egg circles, made requests to the Department for its instructors to visit their districts for the purpose of demonstrating to producers the desirable egg for export, such request would be complied with. The Otago Egg Circle had been the only body that accepted this generous offer, and, as a result of the educative campaign, carried out in that district, the quality of eggs sent to the grading depotshowed marked improvement. It is to be hoped that other districts will real ise the importance of obtaining such advice and information, and' will make arrangements to have the inspectors visit their organisation before the start of the coining export season. In view of the experience jf last season's export trade it would appear that unless a payable price is assured, by guarantee, for eggs arriving in London after the end of December, it would be unwise to forward shipments ariving after that date. The Associaction had received serious complaints, from shipping companies, in regard to space bookeu but not filled, and, owing to the special temperature required for eggs, it was impossible to fill this vacant space. In future, it is the intention of the companies to , charge for unfilled apace, so it will be necessary for societies to exercise great care in estimating their space requirements for the respective boats. Unless more, poultrymen realise the necessity for greater organisation 1 fail to see how the Association can make good progress. At the present time large producers are not receiveing an adequate return for the capital invested, the hours .of labour performed, and lor the experience necessary to successfully conduct a large • poultry plant. I may stale here 1 that the pasi year or two has been an unenviable period for those engaged in the industry. Foodstuffs have ranged at .-i. high level without, unfortunately, -i corresponding increase in the price of eggs. The prospects for the coming year are not at all bright, owing chiefly to the scarcity of foodstuffs, and their corresponding high cost. The crux of the whole question is a. better system. of marketing. How many unorganised poultry keepers (and large producers at that) do we know who hawk their eggs to middlemen, alleged agents, etc., and by such action neutralise the efforts of their who were endeavouring, by loyalty to their organisations, fo further the advancement of the industry. If only they would realise the great possibilities of the export trade, I can see a great future ahead. Mr J. McComDS, M.P., said the vital question of wheat supplies had not received its due consideration from i the Government for the poultrymen were called upon to pay 7s to 8s •* \ bushel for fowl wheat while the mJli lers were able to obtain their wheat for 5s 3d and 5s 6d.

Several speakers agreed that one of the poultryman's chief difficulties was that of co-operation. Some finality should be reached as regards Hie control of pulp, Certainly, a large quantity of eggs hud been exported durmg'last season which had improved the prospects for prices during the short supply period, but some meant) must be sought to control the handling of the large quantity of eggs laid between August and December, over and above those exported. Eggs laid during the months mentioned should not be allowed to. get into the hands of agents and dealers, who. would use them in the pulp market. The Canterbury Frozen Meat Co. did not buy sheep, hut had one of the biggest stores for holding lamb and mutton where the meat was stored, until a suitable time arrived tor placing it on the London market. They were merely a large body of fanners who were assisted with finance while their meat was in store, and they had been doing this for thirty years. Poultrymen must take similar steps to obtain finance while their eggs were in pulp

awaiting the opportunity to be placed on the market. It was up to them to co-operate and combine, and so guarantee money at the bank which could be paid out to the producers to carry them along. Pulp was no more difficult to hold than farmers' meat. It could be put into store m a sweet condition and would come out sweet after twelve months. There was no reason why they should not co-operate on these lines, and so keep the control of their produce in their own hands. If this were done it would mean encouragement to the producers, without an increase in price to the consumers. The profits at present made by the agents would go into the pockets of the producers, who would receive the whole of thr. price paid by the pastrycooks. The question of the control of pulp was one of finance, and the first step was to get the producers to link up with the Association. New Zealand, like other countries situated in the Southern Hemisphere, is in the happy and unique position whereby, having opposite seasons, we are able to land the cheap-season egg on the London market, at a time when a maximum egg yield is being produced and maximum prices prevail. It was really hard to conceive, but nevertheless, a fact that when a boar, of the Rotorua type left these shores, it was quite possible for our eggs iO be in the hands of the consumers at the other end in a period as short as 40 days, which served as an illustration of the possibilities of poultrykenping in the Dominion.