MARKETING EGGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 66, 19 March 1931, Page 11

MARKETING EGGS.

FLUCTUATIONS IN PRICE. IMPORTANCE of grading. POULTRY FARMERS' DISCUSSION. • Eggs, their production, distribution, price, age and weight were discussed by tho delegates to the New Zealand Poultry Association Conference yesterday. Mr. A. Ironside, representing the Agricultural Department, gave a short address. He said that an export trade had been attempted under Government guarantee. The last year of export was 1929, when the call on the Government had been equal to 5d per dozen. The fmarantee had since been withdrawn and export had ceased. Tho Agricultural Department had given considerable attention to the question of framing regulations with a view to eggs being sold on quality and grade, but so far there had not been sufficient agreement amongst the varying interests and the department. It was with the idea of bringing about unanimity that the department was now working. The regulations, it was hoped, would be acceptable from their inception, and be carried out with a will rather than with a sledge hammer.

Size and Quality. Mr. F. C. Brown, chief poultry instructor, said it was no use grading for size unless the eggs were tested. The consuming public wanted eggs true to description. Equal value was being obtained to-day, despite the size of eggs. There was no encouragement for the poultry breeder to produce a strain of fowl that would lay larger eggs. There was always* the doubt as to the content in the produce that was not tested and stamped. It was no use having an "eat more eggs" campaign unless tho quality was guaranteed. It was pointed out in the course of discussion that if grading and testing were insisted upon the problem would be what to do with tho rejects. They would have to go on the market without a warranty of quality. Mr. Herbert Turner said eggs had been easier to sell since grading had been introduced. If all eggs were tested the producer would have to bear the cost. Canadian Eggs. Mr. It. S. Higginbottom complained that the Agricultural Department had not considered the interests of the producer sufficiently. The Government should institute a central grading store and do the work now carried out by the merchants. He considered that merchants should be prohibited from speculating with produce. Both the producer and consumer should be protected. He objected to the flooding of the market at certain seasons with Canadian eggs. The chairman, Mr. G. S. Bates, said representations had been made to the Government concerning tho impost of a heavy duty" on imported eggs. Eggs should be placed on the same footing as pulp, and not allowed in without a permit approved by the Minister of Agriculture. Mr. Ironside said the Minister could not do anything concerning importations from Australia until the present tariff arrangement expired. Reference was made to the market fluctuations of eggs, several delegates expressing the view that the producers were not alive to the importance of scientific marketing and the avoidance of steep rises and falls. Mr. Higginbottom said one of the troubles was that the members of Parliament did not understand the position. Price-Fixing Not Wanted. Mr. S. Dick (Christchurch) sai Canadian eggs came in on account of the high prices ruling at certain seasons for the New Zealand product. He had a rise of 9d and lOd per dozen in a week. The housewife would not stand for that and she bought tomatoes or sausages instead. Mr. P. Jennens (Wellington) hoped they would never attempt to fix prices. The law of supply and demand should determine the price. It appeared to liim that the dairy farmers were today "getting a bit of their own back." It was decided to write to the Minister of Agriculture concerning the importation of eggs, and ask for the same restrictions to be imposed as applied to egg pulp; and that an "eat more egg campaign" should be organised by the Poultry Association after the Government regulations were gazetted.