THE EASTER EGG.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 18

THE EASTER EGG.

MINISTER THINKS IT DEAR. TOULTRYMEX'S EXPLANATION*. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.') WELLINGTON', this dav. A poultry keepers' deputation to the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. O. J. Hawken) could hardly be expected to end without some reference to the soaring price of the Easter ecp. It * was the Minister who mentioned the subject (the poultrykeepers no doubt bein? quite content to silently enjoy the position). Mr. Hawken declared that* he was much interested in eggs, and as a householder, he knew what lie had to pay for them—about 3/ per dozen just now. The deputation felt that it was being put on the defensive, and one speaker gave a promise of cheaper eggs in the near future, if the industry gets encouragement. He explained that at times during the year the price of eggs dropped low when the bakers held off purchasing, hoping to get egjrs cheap for pulping. A little arrangement which the deputation suggested for improving this business, and at the same time developing the export trade, would, the Minister was assured, so encourage owners of poultry to extend their flocks that there would be more birds in the Dominion, and a correspondingly larger supply of eggs in the winter and spring. Then, it was inferred, eggs would be cheaper, as the present high price is purely a matiter of heavy demand at a time when the hens are not laying up to average. The export season, it was also explained, is a very limited one. ranging at the most from August to the end of October.