EGG SITUATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 108, 8 May 1943, Page 6

EGG SITUATION

SUPPLIES FOR PUBLIC

Inquiries made by "The Post' of Combined Distributors as to the prospects of egg supplies for the general public, showed that when this organisation came into being at the end ot 1941^ the egg' position was unsatisfactory. The company at once realised that the future supply would become increasingly .short, necessitating some system of rationing, which would enable an equitable distribution for civilian consumption. A complete survey of the retail trade, including restaurants, hotels, and dairies, was then made, and records compiled covering the normal purchases for normal requirements at. that, time. As ?oon as supplies of eggs became insufficient, for normal requirements, the following procedure wfes adopted by Combined Distributors in rationing available quantities: Priorities, which iijclude hospitals, medical certificates, Plunket, Armed Forces, and shipping, were first covered. ' Civilian requirements were'then rationed on a percentage based on the records obtained from the survey made. Combined Distributors reports that for this week a distribution of 12^ per cent, was made for civilian consumption, that such percentage is based on the average summer requirements; and this percentage would represent a much higher proportion of the average autumn and winter requirements.

This being the low production period of the year, there may not be sufficient supplies available, after priorities have been filled, to make a civilian distribution every week. However, every effort will be made to spread available supplies in such manner as will tend to maintain a regular distribution. For the information of the public it may be explained that Combined Distributors Ltd. consists of nine- wellknown Wellington dairy . produce wholesale firms working as one organisation, in order to effect economy in distribution to. the retail trade and other interests.