EGG MARKETING

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 239, 4 July 1940, Page 7

EGG MARKETING

Co-ordination Of Supply

And Demand

REGULATIONS ISSUED

Egg Marketing Regulations were passed by the Executive Council yesterday aud will come into effect on August 1. “For some years past,” said ■the Minister of Marketing, Mr. Nash, in an interview, “conditions obtaining in the production and marketing of eggs have become, so disorganized as to constitute a continuous source-ot worry to producers on the one hand and irritation to consumers on the other.

“It lias become necessary, therefore, to introduce some measure of co-ordi-nation between supply and demand to enable consumers, particularly in the four main centres', to be assured of obtaining a reasonable share of New Zealand’s production of eggs at. periods ■when the quantities produced locally are insufficient to meet the demand. (Producers have also suffered as a result of this disorganization which has been reflected in violent price fluctuations tending to undermine the economic stability of the industry. “In order to adjust this disability, the regulations provide for the licensing of wholesale distributors in the declared marketing areas and the further licensing of those producers who desire to sell eggs produced on lheir own poultry runs by way of wholesale within these areas,” Mr. Nash said. “Wholesale distributors in particular will be required to satisfy the Internal Marketing Division, which will administer these regulations, that they have adequate facilities for the grading and quality examination of all eggs offered for sale to the public. Through this machinery of licensed wholesalers the Internal Marketing Division (by co-ordinating all activities will regulate the supply of eggs in accordance with consumer demand in each market. This should result in a far greater degree of mar : ket stability, which in turn will mean greater economic security for individual producers. Grading Of .Eggs. “Consumers will also be vitally interested in additional provisions of the regulations which require all eggs sold 'within the four main centres to be correctly graded according to size, and in the case of all retail sales to be I clearly marked so that the housewife as able to see at once the grade of eggs offered for sale,” The following grades would be instituted and purchasers should make sure that they received eggs of the grade indicated by the retailer:— i Heavy grade: Eggs the weight of which i is not less than 2:1 oz. I,Standard grade: Eggs the weight of I which is less than 2joz. but not less than 1 15-lGoz. Medium grade: Eggs the weight of which is less than 1 15-16 oz, and not less than 9-10 oz. Pullet eggs: Eggs the weight of which is less than 1 9-16 oz. but not less ■ than 1-loz.

In future, eggs of less than 1-joz. would not be offered for sale by retailors. “It is also intended,” the Minister said, “that the Internal Marketing Division should institute a publicity programme for the purpose of assisting housewives in a knowledge of ruling market prices from day to day in respect of each grade of eggs. Where any doubt exists as to the grade or quality of eggs being sold by any retailer, an inquiry should be immediatelv made through any branch of the Internal Marketing Division requesting an investigation. Four Metropolitan Centres. “In the initial stages the regulations arc intended to apply only to the four metropolitan areas, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, as these areas constitute the greatest concentration of consumer demand, but provision is made for the extension of the regulations to cover additional areas as the need arises.

“Authority has also boon taken by the Internal Marketing Division to control the manufacture and selling of chilled and preserved eggs and egg pulp, so that adequate supplies of eggs in these forms may be available to the consuming public and manufacturers during the months of natural shortage. “Altogether the regulations will fill a need which is felt by both producers and consumers, and provided that the full co-operation of all sections of the community is available their successful operation is assured.”