EGGS—FRESH AND OLD

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1929, Page 10

EGGS—FRESH AND OLD

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —''Harvesting," reads a report on the egg market in your issue of 22nd inst., is reported "as often uncovering numerous nests, and these eggs, usually very stale, find their way into the stores at this time o£ year." This in itself is very sorry reading, but would .lose its significance were regulations enforced whereby these eggs were prevented from going further. As matters stand, however, practically all these "very stale" eggs sooner or later find their way into the hands of housekeepers, with a consequent reduction in demand for any eggs at all.

Amonst the various channels whereby such eggs reach the housekeeper are the poultrymen's organisations, bodies affiliated to the New Zealand Poultry Association, and this deeply-rooted trouble ia caused by the system of marketing ia vogue in this country. Moreover, notwithstanding the good these organisations may have done to the industry in the past, they are themselves a serious obstacle to any adequate reform in marketing methods, due to the fact that they hold, stocks at times ia order to maintain a "steady market."

Export eggs are the subject of every consideration in the matter of selection, whilst anything is good enough for the local market. Is there any other line of foodstuff on which the authorities are so dilatory in grading or inspecting? It has been suggested that the N.Z.P.A. ami the Government be asked to each, send a man to England to study market conditions, but mind you, for export only. In England the poultryman's mark is the ■warranty of the eggs marketed, but in this country the'buyer rarely has any choice in what he buys—an egg is an egg. A system of grading centres is-being tried out wjth a view to improving English methods of marketing. Cojiiitions over there may well be emujateanere, and it might be well if a representative from this country went to study them. I agree with a contention held by you,' sir, that the poultry industry has not yet reached saturation point, except in so far as the percentage of stale and rotten eggs permeating the market is concerned. Were the housekeeper given confidence by the regular supply of a reliable product, the increase in demand would not only enable existing poultrymen to make a fair living, but would open the way for others to join their ranks. It would also, I think, reduce the number of backyard flocks, the sole reason for which, in many 'cases, is the difficulty of obtaining "new laid eggs." Present conditions a»s no good to either producer or consumer, both sections suffering heavily through a severe economic loss. —I. am, etc.,

POULTRYMAN. Stokes Valley, 26th January.