CONTROL IN DOMINION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 145, 21 June 1935, Page 14

CONTROL IN DOMINION.

PRODUCERS ORGANISING. (By ORPINGTON.) It is increasingly evident that New Zealand poultryincn have at last awakened to the need for thorough organisation. The establishment of the New Zealand Poultry Producers' Federation, for which the New Zealand Poultry Board has heen mainly responsible, has caught the enthusiasm of producers, both large and small, in no uncertain manner, no doubt because of its exceedingly democratic nature. Already some 32 branches have been formed in the Auckland Province alone, and we understand that similar progress is being made throughout the Dominion. Although the Poultry Board has taken the initial steps in inaugurating this Dominion-wide Federation of Poultrymen, the board, will exercise no supervision over the organisation. Indeed the reverse will be the case, for the mail* object which seems to have actuated the board was to form a channel by means of which the actual wishes and opinions of individual poultrykeepers could be ascertained for the guidance of the board. In their organising work members of the board have made it clear that this is not to be merely a society of large commercial flock owners, but is intended to embrace all who keep poultry in however email a way; and on the basis of one man one vote, so that the small flock owners, who constitute by far the greatest numbers, can never be overruled by the "big men" in the industry.

There will soon be very few parts of the country which are,not included in the area of one or other of the numerous branches. The Auckland City area is rapidly being grouped, and reports show that Messrs. T. H. Evans, board member, j and E. C. Jarrett, Government poultry instructor, who recently made a tour ot the Hauraki, Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay and Waikato districts, in the interests of the organisation, were enthusiastically received everywhere they went. Widespread Enthusiasm. This widespread enthusiasm would seem t° indicate that poultrykecpers are dissatisfied with present conditions, aim look to the federation as a means of correcting them. A popular movement such as this can hardly fail to crystallise the individual dissatisfaction into an organised effort towards improved conditions. It is interesting to see tli.it one of the measures already being advocated by the new federation is improvement of the condition in which eggs reach the consumer. The federation is taking the long view, realising that the consumer here is the industry's best friend, and that the local market is just as entitled to careful grading on a quality basis as is the overseas market. Mr. Evans ie reported to have cited the case of Canada, whose egg-marketina; regulations are the most advanced in the world. Then years ago, he said. Canada's consumption,of e?gs per head of population was 180. Then compulsory quality grading was adopted, and so improved the popularity of eggs as a food that within fivo yeare the per capita consumption had increased to 3,'!fi eggs per year.

Xew Zealand's present consumption is about 200 eggs per person, so there is undoubtedly room for improvement. Every housewife knows that eggs of doubtful quality are by no means rare. Eggs which have been held for long periods in cool store arc sold without any distinguishing mark. Usually they are quite good enough for cake and pastry making, but the housewife who buys them should be enabled to distinguish between "cooking" eggs and new-laid eggs, and pay for them accordingly. It is not the producer who gains l>v thi« deception. Indeed, increased popularity would mean an increased demand, which would he reflected to some extent in prices, and enable more labour to be absorbed in egg production without bringing about an over supply. The buying public have long wanted some, such regulation; the Master Grocers' Association has urged it. and now we find producers demanding the same provision. Under-cutting of Prices. Another feature which is causing grave concern and much loss to eggproducers is the widespread practice among certain retailers of using eggs as a cut line to attract custom for other goode. While most lines are more or less open to this type of cutting, eggb, more than any other article, have been chosen for this purpose, probably because of the ease of securing direct supplies at prices fixed by the grocer himself. Whatever the cause, the prae'tice is coneidered by producers to bo most detrimental to their interests, and some form of control is> advocated.

The first annual conference of the federation is to be held in Wellington on June 25 and 2(5. This conference will be attended by a representative of ench of the district councils set up. These councils are formed of two representatives of each of the branches within a given area, and the following are the councils so far inaugurated in the Auckland district, with the name of their respective delegates: —Waitemata (Captain A. Or. Hackett. Glen Eden), Manu-kau-Franklin (Mr. ,T. C. Nesfield, Manure wa). Waikato (Mr. A. R. Turnwald. Hamilton), Hauraki (Mr. K. A. Powell. Karangahake). Bay , of Plenty (Miss M. W. Stewart. Taurangal.

The council comprising the North Auckland district ia still to be inaugurated, and branches in the Poverty Bay district will, for the present, obtain representation through the Hawke's Bay Council. The remits which are being forwnrded to the conference by theso" councils embody some interesting matters, and among those having general support are: —Quality grading of eggs, s.\le by weight, extension of registration to include all who produce egge for sale, encouragement and subsidisation of the export market for eggs and table poultry, producer control of egg marketinn, to eliminate manipulation of pr.ices. relief from the present system of wWat duties, itnd the. provision of a fitosk Foods Art for the protection of all stock feefWs'on line* idfenclv adopted iii* most Enalish-spenkimr countries. Producers' representatives on the New Zealand Poultry Board are elected on the ward system. One member i<3 nominated by each provincial district, and two' members retire in rotation each year. This year, vacancies have occurred in the Auckland and Wellington districts, and nominations have been made accordingly by public meetings of registered pbultrykeepers throughout the two districts; affected. The result of the elections will not be made known until the appointments have received the viceRegal and are officially gazetted