Levin Poultry Farmers Disturbed At Outlook

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30028, 12 January 1963, Page 5

Levin Poultry Farmers Disturbed At Outlook

(New Zealand Pres, AwoctahM)

LEVIN, January 11. Levin’s poultry farmers are “facing disaster.” If the price of eggs does not unprove drastically by next Christmas there (rill be few poultry farm* left in the district. That is the wanting of Mr J. G. Sinclair, president of the Levin Regirtered Poultnrkeepers* Association. He said today many were finding it difficult to go on. From Wellington to Wanganui, and through the Wairarapa, poultry farm* supplied Welhhgton. Before and after Worid War U. Wellington eggs were 3d dearer than etewhere, because of freight charges, he said. Several farms were established in Levin to get the benefit of the extra 3d.

Three year* ago, mid Mr Sinclair, the egg marketing authority removed the extra 3d, and iteelf paid freight.

Then a yaw later farmers ware mad* to pay jd towards it. “We are new getting 3d a dozen leas. That is case cause of the trouble. The other is over-production. “I understand that sheep and cattle farmers are installing big batteries. After a trip to Australia, to me it seesns sb though we might go the same way.” There, the big batteries supplied the market In New Zealand, five or six batteries with 300.000 bird* each could gu.’” They would then be able to dictate their own terms to the nnnwamer Stability must be achieved by Government control, said Mr Sinclair.