Attempt To Settle Egg Production

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 14

Attempt To Settle Egg Production

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 24. Regulations authorising a levy on pullet chicks by the Egg Marketing Authority and providing for the registration of poultry hatcheries were gazetted tonight.

Yesterday, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) announced that the Government had approved a scheme to stabilise egg production and counteract the trend of over-produc-tion which was bringing uneconomic prices for poultry farmers.

The scheme provides for a chick levy of up to Is 6d on all poultry producers purchasing chicks from hatcheries.

The levies—which could amount to between £200,000 and £300,000 a year—will be used by the Poultry Board to make end-of-season payments to poultry farmers who give an undertaking to the board not to increase the numbers of their present flocks. The Minister explained at the Poultry Board’s annual conference yesterday that the poultry industry—unlike other primary industries—had almost no export market. It is estimated 34,500,000 dozen eggs will be produced this season, of which 15,500,000 will be surplus to home requirements. Mr Taiboys said the national surpluses were exported and netted ninepence a dozen to producers. The regulation providing for the registration of poultry hatcheries says that as from the end of April, no person shall own or operate a hatchery unless an application to register the hatchery has been lodged with the Egg Marketing Authority and a certificate of registration issued.

Among provisions listed in the regulation before a certificate is granted is one which states each hatchery operator must have reasonable facilities—including satisfactory premises—for the satisfactory carrying out of the business.