EGGS FOR EXPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 205, 31 August 1933, Page 9

EGGS FOR EXPORT.

ORDERLY MARKETING.

STABILISING LOCAL PRICES.

CONTROL OPERATING.

With the object of placing the export trade on a better basis and stabilising the local market, tlie New Zealand Central Egg Export Committee, with branches in the four main centres, has been formed. The chairman of the Auckland branch is Mr. A. C. Norden, who to-day indicated the purport of the agreement which has been signed by the egg-exporting firms of Auckland, and under which the first shipment of the season has been dispatched. The Mataroa, which left Auckland yesterday, took as part of its cargo 40(1 crates, each containing 30 dozen eggs. The opening shipment of last season comprised ISO crates. The Opawa (September 20) will load 500 crates, and space for COO crates lias been reserved on tlie Rangitata (September 30). Mr. Norden stated that the basis of tho organisation was the orderly marketing of the product oversea and the stabilising of local prices. All the Auckland egg-exporting firms had signed tlie agreement, and the members of the committee were pledged to ship a minimum quantity of 15 per cent of all the eggs they received. In the event of a producer withdrawing supplies for export from any individual member, the other signatories were bound by the agreement not to handle the eggs of the producer concerned. For the first time the individual firms were grading on their own premises, under Government supervision. That would save expense and enable a higher return to be received by tlie producer. "Mutual Advantage." "The committee also has in mind," Mr. Norden added, "that the public should not be exploited as a result of the new arrangement, and if tho wholesale price of eggs, which at present is lid a dozen, rises to 1/, the whole question of export will be reviewed. Since August 14 the firms comprising the exporting committee have been advancing on the basis of 7d per dozen for 15 per cent of the eggs supplied for export, so that all producers are on the same basis. Arising out of the agreement, the local market has already been stabilised, and supply and demand generally have been balanced, to the mutual advantage of producer and consumer. We have every confidence iu the framework of the agreement, arid later we will consider tho possibility of the expansion of its operations. We hope to tackle not only the grading of eggs, but the question of ensuring their sale on grade on the local market." Penalty clauses were incorporated in the agreement, which prescribed fines up to £50 for any breaches of the terms or regulations. The books of agents were to be available for inspection. It was an equitable agreement, and would result in the poultry industry generally being placed on a better footing. In reply to a question, Mr. Norden said the present artificial exchange rate had not been considered in the framing of the agreement. If the rate dropped, the whole position would have to be reviewed, as far as export was concerned.