SUPPLY OF EGGS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 148, 10 March 1923, Page 5

SUPPLY OF EGGS

SPLENDID FIELD IN THE DOMINION FOR GUARANTEED ARTICLE i av tbijEGraph.—press association Nelson, Alarch 9. Air. F. C. Brown, Government Poultry Expert, in tho course of remarks at tho Poultry Conference to-day, said that the requirement of first-grade exportable eggs was only one phase of the marketing side of the industry, 'lhe necessity for catering for the local trade m a more intelligent manner that now obtains was the great presentday essential for the uplifting of tha industry. Export was all right in its way, but it must be remembered that thq most that could be expected from it (in view of the short season in which it would be possible) merely meant the unloading of a few thousand pounds worth at the most, whereas, on the other hand, tig; Dominion’s egg bill was estimated to bo in the region of two millions. In view of the high standard of living obtaining in this Dominion, it was questionable if there there was any country in the world which was prepared to pay a higher price for good-sized, absolutely guaranteed fresh eggs. Unfortunately, wo had at the present time few agencies which made any attempt- to lift the egg standard ami secure in return a true market value, .as was the ease with the N.Z.P.A. He was in hopes that the formation of egg circles would bring about the desired reform in matters connected with the local egg trade, and bo a stepping-stone to true po-opera-tion. With this in view, Air. Brown said he advocated their formation throughout the 'Dominion- Unfor ornately, his expectations had not been realised to any great degree, not because the principles on which they were formed were wrong, but because Lie principles "had in too many cases not been acted upon. In advocating egg circles tho point was always stressed that the object was not to form a Ijust, but rather to place in thq hands or the consumer a guaranteed article, a>'d receive in return its true market value. Of recent years things in regard to marketing had undoubtedly g (,n . e backwards instead of forwards, which was much to be regretted. The N.Z.P.A. was fathering practically every egg circle and society in the Dominion Unfortunately, however, there is little or no co-ordination among them. Instead of working together, they are .mostly working against each other, while the true spirit of co-operation appears to be as far distant as ever. It. would appear that tho N'.Z.l’.A. will have to start its work over again by facing a new policy, and lie could imagine »o bettor time to tackle this important question than the present. ■ Much consideration was given to the matter, and tho delegates felt real progress had been made at the conference-