Sessional_Paper_1934 — Page 132

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Poultry and Eggs.

12. Although economically the importation of poultry and eggs is of less im- portance than that of pigs, the value of live poultry imported into the Colony is considerable, amounting as it does to just under three million dollars per annum. The local production which at present goes to the markets is estimated at about one-ninth of the amount imported.

13. The figure for eggs is less reliable. In this case we have only the Imports and Exports Department's statistics as the sale is not restricted to markets as in the case of pigs and poultry. Probably about two million dollars per annum represents the import figure. We have no reason to doubt the conclusion reached in the Report on Marketing, published as Sessional Paper 1 of 1934, that the local pro- duction of eggs for consumption in the urban areas is at present quite negligible.

14. Here again disease is reported to play an important part, while the gross inbreeding in most villages almost certainly reduces both the quantity and the quality of eggs below what is proper.

15. As at present advised we consider that poultry breeding should continue to be a village industry; but that disease could be mitigated by expert advice and that egg-production could be increased by the system which has been proved successful in the area around Shanghai of providing good cockerels to villages on condition that a corresponding number of local cockerels are immediately slaughter-

ed.

16. Here again we are satisfied that quite possibly no import of stock will be necessary as the existing poultry farms (which cater chiefly for non-Chinese custom) could provide the requisite supply of thorough-bred cockerels. there must always be a considerable surplus at present killed for the table.

Conclusions.

17. We are satisfied that an important improvement upon the existing state of affairs can be anticipated with every confidence; but as a first and necessary condi- tion of such an improvement we strongly recommend the engagement at the earliest possible date of an expert in animal husbandry.

18. We consider that such an appointment, for which a salary of £600 would be adequate, should be on a three years' agreement in the first place but that, if statistics of local production should justify it, the post may be found to be a per- manent necessity.

19. We consider that a suitable young and energetic officer could best be recruited at home through the Colonial Advisory Council of Agriculture and Animal Health.

20. We recommend that the post should be included under the Estimates Head "District Officer (North)". He would probably need a small locally recruited (or seconded) staff and some additions will be necessary to the District Officer's transport and incidental votes. These however can probably await the officer's own recommendations after surveying the problems on arrival. We presume that free quarters in the New Territories could be made available for him.

21. We consider that the hands of such an expert might be strengthened and his work furthered by the appointment of a small Farm Board which might also serve to co-ordinate all the agricultural activities in the Colony.

22. We understand that proposals have been made for gradually linking up outlying villages with the main roads; and we recommend that such improved com- munications, being an essential ingredient in any improvements on the lines which we have recommended, should be provided as soon as possible.