19

H—29

Following are the numbers of each class of animal slaughtered under direct inspection during the year ended 31st March, 1929: Cattle, 320,945 ; calves, 393,039 ; sheep, 2,740,890 ; lambs, 6,126,993 ; swine, 445,534. The following table indicates the respective classes of premises at which these animals were slaughtered : —•

Stock slaughtered at ordinary slaughterhouses during the year ended 31st March, 1929, was as follows : Cattle, 82,385 ; calves, 1,948 ; sheep, 239,176 ; lambs, 22,489 ; swine, 25,684. In addition to the stock slaughtered at meat-export slaughterhouses, abattoirs, and ordinary slaughterhouses, 45,253 carcasses of pork killed and dressed by farmers and sent into butchers' shops were examined by departmental officers. In connection with the animals shown in the above table as slaughtered at meat-export slaughterhouses, the following numbers of the respective classes are returned as having gone into consumption within the Dominion: Cattle, 41,963; calves, 6,157 ; sheep, 183,631. ; lambs, 78,814; swine, 20,431. Compensation paid for Stock and Meat condemned. Compensation to the amount of £16,138 Os. 6d. was paid out during the year for 5,713 animals condemned in the field for disease under the Stock Act, and £15,085 17s. lid. for carcasses or parts of carcasses condemned for disease on examination at time of slaughter at abattoirs, meat-export slaughterhouses, &c., under the provisions of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act. Importation of Stud Stock from Abroad. Outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in England having persisted, the embargo on cattle, sheep, and swine from Great Britain is still in force, and present prospects for the lifting of the embargo are not bright. The only countries from which cattle may be imported into New Zealand at present are Tasmania, Canada, and the United States (with the exception of the State of California) ; swine may also be introduced from the same countries ; all animals are subject to quarantine on arrival. The following animals from abroad entered into quarantine during the year to undergo the required period : Horses, 11 ; cattle, 29 ; swine, 33 ; dogs, 59. Exportation of Stud Stock. The following stud stock was exported during the year : Sheep, 2,669 ; cattle, 164 ; horses (draught), 10. In addition, the usual shipments of trotting and thoroughbred horses were made to Australia, principally for racing purposes, but the majority of these eventually return again to this Dominion. Destruction of. the Kea. The subsidy of ss. per beak paid for the destruction of the kea during the year totalled £748 10s., equal to 2,994 birds. The Poultry Industry. The position of the poultry industry in respect to the production of eggs has reached a stage requiring very considerable thought. The production of eggs has steadily grown of recent years, and prospects of a payable market in England for all surplus eggs produced in the flush season, ranging from August to November, were bright in the past season. Several small shipments of eggs shipped to London within recent years realized quite payable prices, but steadily growing production in the United Kingdom, on the Continent of Europe, and in South Africa and Australia, coupled with a mild season in England, resulted in a depressed market, particularly for all cool-stored eggs, with the result that prices realized for New Zealand eggs exported to London were not payable. The condition of the eggs on arrival was reported to be good, as also was the grading and quality. The industry is sorely in need of better organization in order that better control of the system of marketing may be introduced to the advantage of both producer and consumer. The local market is capable of absorbing considerably increased quantities of eggs, and in the absence of payable export prices, this market should be built up, and the present surplus of eggs marketed locally at payable prices, in place of exporting to an unprofitable overseas market. This should be capable of being brought to fruition without Government action, and the matter is commended to those connected with the industry for their careful consideration. I attach the report of the Chief Poultry Instructor, Mr. F. C. Brown, as follows : — The production of eggs has shown a considerable increase during the year. Notwithstanding the fact that 7,427 cases of 30 dozen each were exported to the London market (which constituted a record), and that an ample supply of egg-pulp was put down under cool storage for use by large consumers during the winter, it is unfortunate for the producer that this did not have the effect of removing sufficient of the summer surplus

Stock. Abattoirs. Meat-export Bacon-factories. Slaughterhouses. Cattle .. .. .. .. .. 155,302 165,643 Calves .. .. .. .. .. 50,457 342,582 Sheep .. .. .. .. .. 584,856 2,156,034 Lambs .. .. .. .. .. 95,982 6,031,011 Swine .. .. .. .. .. 129,641 270,084 45,809