THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 306, 20 May 1911, Page 5

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

ADDRESS BV AX EXPERT. There were about W present, including a number of ladies, at the Town Hall last night, when Mr. T. H. Rutherford, organiser of the New Zealand Poultry Association, gave nn address on the E»<* Circle. -Mr. S. Teed (patron of the local Poultry Society) presided, and briefly introduced the speaker. Mr. Rutherford stated that the first egg circle in New Zealand had been started in Masterton just twelve months ago, and had so,far proved very successful. I here had been an egg circle movement in South Australia, with very disastrous results, and a loss of £BOOO had occurred the first year. This was because it was worked on the wrong lines. The Government appointed organisers, and paid out each week on the prices ruling at Adelaide. The eggs were then sent to Sydney and elsewhere, and sold often at a bjg loss. In New Zealand egg circles the principle was different. The idea was to have a uniform egg, of a uniform quality, and at a uniform price all the year round. He pointed out that they did not intend to corner the market and make eggs dear to the consumer. Under the present system the consuming public often bought several bad eggs, and this made the remaining good ones excessively dear. There was no chance, moreover, of ascertaining from which farm the eggs were received. Poultry people, he said, must admit that the egg market was falling, and in proof of this he compared the price of eggs at various dates in 1911' with similar dates in 1910, showing a considerable falling off. They wanted to be in a position to regulate the market so as to obtain a better price in the summer even if a less one in the winter. Taranaki people should know the benefit of organisation and co-opera-tion. Look, he said, what it had done for Taranaki! In former years farmers could only get 4d a lb for butter in summer, and anything they liked in the winter. Now there was a uniform price for butter, and he felt certain that had not reduced the demand. He referred to the remarks made by Lord Islington when speaking at the opening of the Masterton showgrounds. He then referred to the fact that the present prosperity of Ireland was due to this, and also remarked that the various splendid dairy institutions were no doubt doing well, but would do infinitely better if all were united in one common centre and sent all their small outputs to one man. Mr. Rutherford said that what I had been done for the dairy could be done for poultry. He pointed out that an egg circle would also be a gainer, as they would be able to purchase feed cheaper collectively than individually.! The haphazard way in which eggs were now sold—eggs big and little, dirty and' clean, old and young being mixed—did not encourage the public to use eggs. Egg circles would put the eggs on the market in a clean, wholesome manner. It was absolutely absurd to have to pay as much for a small egg as for a large one, and, later on, the circles would undertake the grading. Then, again, there was tlfe question of railway freight. Why should eggs be charged more than fruit! It cost Is 9d to send 561bs of eggs 70 miles, whereas 6d would carry 401b of fruit 100 miles. Both needed the same care. The matter had been put before the Minister of Customs, and he admitted the justice of the claim, but nothing| had yet been done. There was no reform without collective effort, and he would like to see poultrymen throughout New Zealand ask for this reform. Some people kept out of an egg circle because they eould perhaps command Id and 2d more than the ruling price, but he pointed out that this would not make much difference on a falling market. Co-oper-ation was necessary. New Zealand should be able to produce eneugh eggs to supply its own needs, and yet three countries were exporting eggs to New Zealand, viz., China, South Australia and Germany. Chfna exported dessicated eggs, and who could guarantee they were wholesome? Germany exported tinned eggs- No one knew how many German eggs came through the Customs, because, although there was 20 per cent, duty on them, they came as "goods n.0.e." The New Zealand Government was spending thousands on four poultry farms to teach people to produce eggs, and, on the other band, were allowing eggs to be imported to compete against local eggs. Most of these imported eggs were used by confectioners. He then traced the formation of the New Zealand Poultry Association, which was established to enable all poultry men, whether tliey produced feathers, eggs, or tabic poultry, to unite for mutual benefit. The affiliation fee was low for each society, viz., 10s, and for each e<.'<: circle Od per member. He briefly detailed the workings of egg circles, remarking that egg circles were wanted all over New Zealand, not to corner the produce, but to regulate the market. Denmark, which was the home of co-operation, had made a success of egg co-opcration as well as of milk co-operation. It it proved successful in Denmark, so it should in New Zealand, where we prided ourselves on our education and advanced ideas. Local egg circles were formed by several people meeting together, and deciding to institute one. Two could form a circle. A committee was formed and various details arranged, such as the best kind of crates to use. - Personally, he believed in wire cratefe, as they minimised breakages and also rendered counting easy. Each member was provided with a stamp bearing the name and number of the circle with the individual number of the member, and each member had to sjtamp every egg forwarded on the top. This proved a great protection to the consumer, as in the event of any eggs not being up to the mark, the supplier could be traced. Their aim was to put the eggs on the market as soon as possible. He pointed out that egg circles should increase the consumption of eggs, as if they could be obtained at a reasonable price all the year round more would be sold. The Masterton circle had started with 85 dozen eggs the first week. Their eggs were distributed to the public by an agent on a 5 per cent, basis, and it' was his duty to push egg circle eggs so that the public would know they had a guaranteed article. This method might possibly be open to improvement. It was also an open question whether they should deal with the wholesale man or the retail man. The members of the circle brought their eggs to a depot every week, where the secretary took charge of them, and all moneys received were pooled and distributed once a month. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. In answer to questions, Mr. Rutherford pointed out that one egg circle would not regulate the market anv more than one biff poultry farmer could, but since the formation of the egg circle. Masterton prices showed a considerable rise. They could regulate the price by exporting to England when very cheap here. Mr. Merrett has successfully exported eggs and netted liy 4 d per dozen. He also received an order from a Home agent for 100,000 dozen, for which lie was offered Is per dozen f.o.b. Lvttelton. Mr. Merrett could not raise this quantity. He could, however, have gone round and gathered up a lot. but did not wish to risk spoiling a good market, so only forwarded a few hundred dozen. Being such a small quantity, only lid a dozen was realised. If the Association

took up the export matter it could no doubt be placed on a satisfactory basis. It was well known that eggs cdtold be preserved, although full experiments had not yet been carried out. They might also preserve eggs and place them on t their own markets. Even now storekeepers were preserving eggs and selling 1 j at enhanced prices, simply because in the plentiful season poultry men would sell tat any price, If they would only preserve u quarter of their produce, the enhanced price they would get for the other three-quarters would pay for the little while they had to wait. There were seven egg circles. He then detailed various rules that governed egg circles. He was well satisfied with the results of the Masterton egg circle. Since its start 20,728 dozen eggs had been disposed of, realising £1001) 5s 6d. If these had been ; disposed of at Masterton prices they would have realised £787 10s lOd. The circle thus received 11 '/J net per dozen, as against the local average of od. Mr. F. E. A. Gordon, of Waitara, a member of the New Zealand Poultry Association executive, also gave an interesting address. He pointed out that Mr. Rutherford had no interests in the matter beyond the furtherance of the poultry industry as a commercial enterprise. The success of combination in the dairy industry should show them what was possible with any agricultural product. The export of butter to Eng. land had regulated the price of butter In New Zealand, and would,do the same wfth eggs. Eggs that were sent Home would have to be carefully picked over. "Fertile eggs would not keep as long ai unfertile eggs. There was life in them, and ft was well known that when life ceased corruption quicklv followed. If rank butter were sent home we would soon lose our market. Quality would regulate price. He traversed at length the questions asked Mr. Rutherford, and stated that on some future evening he hoped to give a lecture on poultry culture. (Applause). Votes of thanks were accorded the speakers on the motion of the chairman, who stated that as the outcome of the addresses he felt certain an egg circle would be formed in New Plymouth. Mr. Rutherford said talk wastalk, but he would like to sec something done. It was then resolved that a provisional committee be formed to approach the Poultry Society and discuss whether an egg circle should be formed, or the movement carried on under the local Poultry Society. The following gentlemen were appointed to the committee:—Messrs Teed, Potts, Bennett, Lewis, Havden, Edge•Himbe, Griffiths, Prestney, Roeh and Drury. At the conclusion of the meeting the speakers were entertained at supper at the "Picadilly" by the local Poultry Society.