POULTRY FARMERS AND THE PUBLIC

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 96, 24 April 1916, Page 2

POULTRY FARMERS AND THE PUBLIC

TO THB EDITOR.

Sir, —I have noticed in your columnsreference is made to a conference of poultry fanners now being held in Wellington. * Judging from the correspondence that appeared in your columns some weeks past I should say that- it is reasonable 'to .assume that the Government may be approached for some form of greater protection of the interests of local egg-growers, i In my opinion I think it is a suitable time for someone to state a case from the buyers standpoint, and if you wiU so permit' I would like to open up the subject with the liope that if we have a Government seriously interested in the cost of living that it will see that no favourable answer is given to any request by the growers that would have the effect of further increasing the price of the ever-necessary egg. * Friday's last market report reads fresh eggs 2s sd, pickled Is 8d per dozen. Quite a luxury when one is called upon to pay 3s per dozen retail. • Various correspondents used quite a quantity of ink lately in stating 'that eggs were being imported into the country, and that they thought such importation' should be stopped. I did not notice in those letters a single expression of consideration for the public, neither did I notice any suggestion of the growers being willing to name a reasonable price limit for selling their Supplies, or any experssion of sympathy for those buyers who are not in a position to purchase eggs at threepence each and yet to whom they may be a pressing necessity During this year and for.many years preceding 1916 eggs have been imported into New Zealand in fairly large quantities, and yet the prices for eggs every year leached extreme figures, and it is therefore safe to say that if the importation was stopped that the local cost of eggs would jump considerably higher. I would suggest that until our local * growers are able to guarantee a sufficient supply at reasonable prices, the limits to be definitely fixed, it would be a most callous act for any Government to prohibit the importation or to create more regulation hindrances that would tend to increase the cost of the imported article. (I quite acknowledge the necessity of regulations for the protection of the health of the community.) I have no wish to create any hardship to growers, but I consider that an industry that is not able to do well on the prices ruling this year and is at the same time so exceedingly well protected by the Customs tariff on imported eggs does not require so very much pity.' To understand the present great disadvantages in importing eggs we have to bear in mind that if the eggs are costing say Is per dozen in California they have to be crated, branded, carried in expensive cool storage to New Zealand and th'en are subject to a Customs duty of threepence per dozen. I should like to ask one or "two questions. Have the growers ever shown the public much consideration? Is it a fact that at the present time the various egg circles place a large proportion of their supplies direct with the grocers and only a. moderate portion in the open market? If this is a fact, is it done with the intention of inflating prices? Ts it .also a fact that during last year the local growers shipped quantities away, thus creating a shortage? I am rather surprised that organisations such. as the Trades and Labour Council have not stirred earlier and placed the position before the Government. The great majority of the public will consider eggs at present prices an expensive luxury, and I think that until such times as the local growers are willing to guarantee sufficient supplies at fixed definite prices, varying according to the time of the year." that we should insist on some relief from the Government, say, by altering the tariff from its .present fixed rate to one that will vary according to the open market prices for locally grown, no duty to be payable when the wholesale local market exceeds, say, Is 6cl per dozen. If any grower should decide to reply to my remarks T would ask that ho avoids repeating statements 'regarding Chinese eggs, ami to which you mentioned in a footnote, to a letter a few days ago that as far as this market is concerned are a negligible quantity. T have in mind Califomian eggs, similar (o those sold last year, and which arrived in splendid condition and of most qjjeoU<:nt qiinlilv,.-..! am. sir., I ■ ■ ■ ■ ' HAM. AND EGGS. ]