POULTRY CLUB.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 18, 16 July 1920, Page 8

POULTRY CLUB.

The annual dinner and meeting of the Utility Poultry dub was held on Wednesttaj t ycaing in. the eFderal Tea Roma. The meeting was of a representative character, there being representatives from Riverton, Bluff, Winton, and a large number of apologies were read extending as far north as Auckland, which showed a wide interest in the Club's activities. The first toast of the evening "The King," which was honoured in the customary maa. ner. Proposing the toast of the "Competitions," Mr J. Stevens said that the Club had been running now for five years. Ten years ago they had a hard struggle to get the competitions going. The Egg Circle was started by a few enthusiasts. The competitions had been the making of the poultry jndustry in Southland. Had it not been for the competitions, there would not have been one third of the birds in Southland, and the competitions have been an undoubted success. In the earlier stages of the Club's career there was some difficulty in getting the pens' filled, but in years to come there would be no difficulty. In responding to the toast Mr Burwell, said that credit was due to Mr Stevens for introducing the competitions in Southland. He re-called the negotiations with the Charitable Aid Board which resulted in a suitable site at Kew being secured. Since then the club had been enabled to erect buildings and buy plant costing £425, and at March 31 the club owed no one anything. — (Applause). This success he attributed to cheap labour and the entry fees to a great extent. It was an interesting tribute to the economy practised by the caretaker that, notwithstanding the rise in the price of feed, £8 less had been spent on it this year. The average price of eggs had shown an increase of 8d per dozen. The net surplus was now £260 — an increase of over 200 per cent. As president of the Society for four and a-half years he had come into constant touch with Mr Stevens, and he could assure them that he had done a great deal for the club. The following interesting figures were given by JYlr Burwell. The figures, in order are for 1917, 1918, 1919, and 1920 :— Co-t of feed, £112, £l66, £181, £173; total expenses, £195, £327, -309, and £365; eggs obtained (in dozens), 3038, 4025, 3902, 3807 ; average price obtained, ls 3.3d, ls 1.7d, ls 6.8d, ls 11.3d ; value of eggs, £246, £263, £306, £371 ; total receipts, £333, £366, £388, £464 ; gross profits, £138, £39, £79, £99 ; prizes given, £24, £27, and £11 ; net surplus, £88, £79,, £139, and £260. The plant and buildings, continued Mr Burwell, were valued at £425. Mr C. Thompson a-Iso responded and considered that the competitions had improved the birds in Southland. Taking Mr Burwell's figures into account the club had done well and was in a very satisfactory position, and an acquisition to Southland. Mr Burwell had done a great deal towards the success of the club. Thefccaretaker was a.careful and valuable man, and helped to bring the club out on the right side of the ledger. The toast of the "Poultry Industry," was proposed by Mr S. Ilill, who stated that the industry had a great future before it. The Government was now more sympathetic towards the industry. There was shortly to be a conference at the Hague, where poultrymen from all parts of the world would meet, and their deliberations would be of great benefit to the indutsry. In America the poultry industry was second only to that of the stelJ indutsry Mr Milla-r responded to the toast and consideled the poultry industry was going ahead. He was glad to see that the competitions had been a success, and an incentive to the people of South Land. It was a bad practice to overfeed the birds, and a great number of complaints could be traced to overfeeding.In Scotland there are not so many birds penned up as in New Zealand. The custom was to have a house on wheels whieh wa.s taken into the fields where the grain had been cut. In addition to breeding birds for eggs they should also provide table birds-. Mr Woodnorth of iWnton, considered that if birds were bred for the table while sellers are at the mercy of the auction rooms, it would not be profitable. Prices are a little better now but eggs are the best for all concprned. Things were looking brighter for the industry, and although the cost of feed has been h'gh they had had the enchanced value of eggs. The toast of ihe "South Invercargill Borough," was proposed by Mr Strang (president). "The manner in which we were assisted in getting new grounds was oue for appreciation and in all our negotiations with the Council we have always fcrand them ready to help us. His Worship the Mayor had shown us every consideration, and in the Town Clerk (Mr yson), we also had a good champion." In responding, Mr Holloway (mayor), considered the club a great acquisition, not only to Southland but especially to out InvercargilL Great improvements.

had beeai made on the club's and it was satisfaetory to know th^ Government had made a grant f til9 Better results will be obtained lr°0 ^ vate enterprise than with Gqv0"1 ^ control. Mr Dyson considered thT?1, should have honorary members. Mr A. Thompson proposed the W . the "Caretaker," who had civen satisfaction. CVei7 Awards and certificates were then sented to the following winners at th ^ competition. , First class light breed 1 ^ Mr H. T. Stratton (cup), second prij? Woodnorth, third prize, Mr pau] /w ' ton); fourth prize, Mrs Gorinski; 2 prize winter test, Mrs Gorinski; seeo! prize, Mr Anderson; first prize heaj! breeds test, Miss Hv King (cup); first pnze winter test for hea\ breeds (brooch), Miss H. King; gl.fate] weight of eggs, Mr R. H. Dempstw ' (Wright' s Bush) gold medal; first priZ( : autumn test, Mr Woodnorth; second prize, Mr Paul. A number of certificates for teams laying over 1200 eggs were also issued. The enjoyment of the function was in. i tensified . by several of those pres6n{ contributing musical and elecutionary items. GENERAL MEETING. The annual general meeting was neit ' held. The annual report was adopted, along : with the balance-sheet. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr J. Strang (re-electerfj ; vjct president, Mr T. E. Davis; secrete^^j treasurer, Mr B. H. Ayling; auditci, J. E. Anderson ; hon. veterinary surg»ni Mr J. Miller ; trustees, Messrs J. Strang and F. Burwell ; committee, Messrs A, G, Thompson, F. Gorinski, J. E. AndersonJ Fairclough, C. Thomson, T. E. Stratton,! Allison, and Williams.