GENERAL NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 27, 23 April 1927, Page 25 (Supplement)

GENERAL NOTES

One has so long looked upon the Pekin duck as a table bird that it comes somewhat as a surprise to hear that a Pekin duck, belonging to Mr. J. W. Thomson, has laid 31S eggs in 52 weeks in the Papanui laying competition just closed. This is not only a record for this breed in New Zealand but is also a world’s record. The Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Club has decided to procure a silver challenge cup to be called the “Alf. Walker Memorial Cup,” for annual competition at its show, different breeds to compete each year and a medal value one guinea to be awarded the winner in addition to his name being engraved on the cup. It has been decided to allocate the cup this year to the best bird in all Game classes. At one time the late Mr. Walker possessed the finest stud of Modern Game in the Dominion. At the end of last show season Mr. Fred Dacre, Christchurch. signified his intention of * retiring from judging. The fancier’s spirit has, however, regained the upper hand, with the result he has accepted an invitation to judge all classes of fancy poultry at Greymouth. Mr. J. D. Gobbe will judge the utility classes. The name of Johnson has figured prominently before utility breeders in New Zealand for many years. Our subject, Mr. J. Johnson, Mount Albert, has been a competitor at the Mount Albert Laying Competition ever since its inception. One has only to visit Mr. Johnson’s workroom to see ample proof of the successes which have been attained by his birds. The walls of the room are practically covered with certificates of merit won by his birds in the laying tests. Mr. Johnson pins his faith to the White Leghorn, one of his Whites leading the number of eggs laid in the Single Pen Championship at Mount Albert. Being a great believer in line breeding, Mr. Johnson selects as breeders only those birds which are full of vitality. His flock never reaches more than 70, thus keen selection is necessary. Mr. Johnson is to be congratulated on his success, as w-e know of no one with only half an acre of ground that can point to the same number of hon-Over-feeding not only debilitates fowls but also impairs the action of every organ in the body. Few fowls that increase the egg yield are really expensive; cheap food often means existence but no profit. Mr. Thos. Dowthwaite, the veteran breeder of Indian Runner ducks, has added another success to his credit. His latest success has been achieved at the Mount Albert laying test by his Runner duck, “Avondale Belle,” which laid 320 eggs in 50 weeks, his team of fawn and white Runners also heading the list of competitors for this variety of Runner by laying 871, 57 eggs above his nearest competitor. During the past 15 years Mr. Dowthwaite has won hundreds of prizes in the show pen and laying competitions. At the last Waterfowl Club’s Show held in Auckland one of his ducks, bred from the same pen as “Avondale Belle,” was awarded the silver challenge cup for the best Runner duck or drake in the show. Beauty and utility combined has always been Mr. Dowthwaite’s motto. We are told that at a well known New Zealand show two of the judges could not agree as to which bird should have a special trophy. Instead of securing the services of a third judge they spun a coin, and by this means one of the birds in question secured the honour. Where is the dignity of judges who so act? What can be the feeling of the victor in such a contest**? The spinning of a coin did not decide the point as to which was the best bird at this particular show.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Championship Poultry and Pigeon Association held in Wellington the following dates were allocated for clubs’ annual shows: Hastings, July 1 and 2. Hutt, July 7 and 8. Blenheim, July 15 and 16. Nelson, July 21, 22, and 23. Owing to the difficulty in obtaining suitable halls the fixing of the dates for the Wellington and Masterton Clubs was held over until the next executive meeting of the association.