Export Table Poultry Competition.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43116, 20 July 1907, Page 2

Export Table Poultry Competition.

DRAFT SCHEDULE AND RULfiS approved.

THE MOVEMENT IN FULL SWING. The adjourned meeting; in connection with the export poultry competition to be> held m Auckland wm resumed at the Fa™*** Weekly ” Office last week. Mi Linder occupied the the ohair, and there wm a representative attendance. „ Mr James, editor of the Jfannere Weekly” who acted as secretary, read * letter whioh he had forwarded to Mr D O. Hyde, asking for the co-operation of the Department, and suggesting that the Government, in the interests of the industry, shotdd subsidise the prize fund, and also place the services of the Government grader at the disposal of the committee. . Amongst the correspondence was a letter from Mr A. A. Dunnioliffe, organising secretary of the “ Daily Telegraph ” competition which has proved such a tremendous success in Sydney. Mr Dunnicliffe sent a consideri able amount of information to guide the committee in its selection of rules and compilation of schedule the schedule. Mr Linder (of the Loan and. Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd.), then read a list which.he had prepared in conj unction with the Government grader as a suggested basis on whion the prize competition should be run. Mr Pounsford (Auckland Government grader) thought it hardly fair that a breed such as the Houdan should be forced to compete with the buff Orpingtons, which went so mnch in weight ana size. This was evidently the course pursued in Sydney. Mr Kemp (Mangere) thought the Houdan would count as valuable as any other bird on the market. In faot, a white flesh bird was of more value than a heavier one of yellow colour. _ ■ ■ . Mr Van Veen (of Van Veen, Reid and Co.) was of the opinion that the schedule of classes drawn up and submitted by Mr Linder was simple enough to please anyone. Mr Linder pointed out that there was a a class of cross breeds, which permitted the entry of almost every strain. . ; The question of the desirability of including a class for Plymouth Rooks was alsc considered. Mr Kemp urged that there was no ad van* tage to be gained in sending Home this elan of bird, since London buyers were not partia to a yellow flesh, but preferred the white: species. The Plymouth Rocks would soil the Yankee market, but not the English. Mr Pounsford pointed out that Irat yew i consignment of Plymouth Rooks had realise* as much as 9s 6d on the London market. It was generally agreed that it would be « mistake to entice entries of Plymouth R<»ki for the export competition, the ease in noim mentioned by Mr Pounsford bang considered an exceptional one. • . After further discussion the following schedule of classes was drafted, viz. Class 1: Black Orpington cockerels. Class 2 : Black Orpington puUets. Class 3 : Black Orpington capons. . Class 4: Buff, White and Jubilee Orpington cockerels. _ . Class 5: Buff, White and Jubilee Orpington pullets. ; Class 6 : Buff, White and Jubilee Orpington capons. Class 7 : Wyandotte cockerels. Class 8 : Wyandotte pullets. Class 9 : Wyandotte capons Class 10: White and Brown Leghorn cockerels. Class 11 : White and Brown Leghorn pullets. > _ , Class 12: White and Brown Leghorn capons. Class 13: Any other purebred cockerels. Class 14 : Any other purebred pullets. Class 15 : Any other purebred capons. Class 16 : Crossbred cockerels. Class 17 : Crossbred pullets. Class 18 : Crossbred capons. Class 19 : Aylesbury ducklings. Class 20: Pekin ducklings. Class 21 : Rouen ducklings. Class 22: Any colour or breed ducklings. Mr Kemp moved that the schedule be adopted as the basis for the competition. The motion was seconded by Mr ; Wright (Cooperative lEgg and Poultry Company) and carried.

THE QUESTION OF JUDGING. The committee was unanimous in the opiuion that it would be advisable to accept Mr Hyde’s judgment as final and not wait for a sec nd decision by a Lopdon judge, as was the principle adopted in the New South Wales competition. I THE BEST HOME JIABKET.

Mr Van Veen strongly urged the advisability of trying other markets in the Old Country than London. His firm had a big connection with the latter market, but had also experiment in other English centres. With such gratifying results that he would like to see the prize export poultry go to some of the principal markets other than London. Mr James said that while the idea was a good one, it would be wise txrwait nntil the competition had reached a more definite stage before going into the matter of shipping to other markets. It was certainly necessary that they should endeavour to obtain the best market for the birds, but Mr VanVeen’s suggestion could be better dealt with later on. CONDITIONS OF RNTET.

On the motion of Mr James, seconded by Mr Van Veen, it was agreed to make November 30th the date forth* closing of entries. 1 Mr Kemp moved, that Mr Pounsford seconded, ‘'That the entrance fee should be 2s 6d per pea ; each pen to contain not less that fifteen birds.” This will enable the grader ts make a.choice of the twelve best, after the birds hare been pluckedsad dressed, and the best dozen will be jplaoofjPnhe cold storage rooms a fortnight before judging. While the entries close on November 30th, the committee decided that it would be advisable to have the birds all in before the middle of February, and it was therefore .agreed that February 12th should be the latest dbte for receiving birds at the Auckland grading depot. By fixing this rate, it art* felt that the competition would be over in 'time to allow the birds to get on to the London market at the very best timo in' the season. COMPETITION BULKS.

The rules to govern the competition were

agreed upon as follows : Entries to consist of not less than fifteen * birds, to be delivered aliveat the Government depot not later than February 12th.. Entrance fee. 2s 6d per pen. Date of entry, November 30th. Birds for the London market to be exported by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, limited. Birds are to be bred by competitor from shell. Cockerels are not to be more than five months old. Capons not to show spurs. Ducklings not to be more than sixteen weeks old. The Government grader is empowered to reject any birds not up to export standard, and such birds shall not be allowed to compete for any prize. ' From the time the birds are delivered at the export depot, they shall be placed unreservedly in the hands of tbeomunitte*. The committee shall dispose of all surplus and rejected birds to the best advantage, and return the net proceeds to the owner. W-' The judging shall be done by a single judge. The exhibits shall be judged when paoked and frozen, acoording to the following scale of points : Cockerels, pullets, chickens, and capons: — Size (one point to each half-pound average weight in cockerels, pullets, and capons, and one point to eaoh quarter-pound in chickens), 10 points ; evidences of. youth, 10 ; quantity of breast meat, 40; straightness of kepi, 10 ; fineness of bone, 10; general evenness ia ap?

’ £earancq, : 1(>;' colour/jof skin, 10 ;• total, 100 points. Ducklings Size, 10 points; evidences of youth, 10; quantity of breast meat, 40; length of keel, 10 ; general evenness in appearance, 20 ; ctlour of skin, 10 ; total, IQO. points. ■ *Td secure jt first prize, at least 80 points must be obtained, and no prize will be awarded for less than 65 points. ■ appointment or officees. Mr James was appointed secretary and treasurer to the competition, Mr Linder chairman.of committee,.and Mr Van Veen vicechairman, Messrs Van Veen, Poundsford, Wright,' Linder, and Doidge been appointed as a. sqb-committee to deal with any matters arising prior to the next meeting, which is t* be held on Wednesday, August 7th, at 2<30 p.m. : - •