IMPORTED EGGS

Evening Star, Issue 16050, 29 February 1916, Page 7

IMPORTED EGGS

GLUT IN THE' MARKET. [SPECIAL TO THE * STAR.’] WELLINGTON, February, 29. “The egg market has been completely demoralised # by the arrival of 70,000 dozen foreign eggs, and since last Thursday it ■has not been a question of price, but simply a question of trying to dispose of an enormous quantity of perishable goods of which only a given quantity could be quitted,” runs the lament of a local firm connected with the poultry industry. The imported eggs, your correspondent learned, on inquiry, were landed in the South. Island ana came from the East, presumably from China The importer was prepared to sell them, according to the complaints of local dealers, at Is 4d per dozen, whereas the ruling price for New Zealand egge was Is 8d or Is 9d per dozen. Consumers preferred the lower price, and the product of the New Zealand hen went begging. One result was the movement of Canterbury eggs to Wellington, and the consequent "disorganisation of the market in this city. The nominal quotation to-day is Is ’6d peg dozen, hut the eggs can be secured cheaper than that. Last session the Government amended the Sales of Food and Drugs -Act so as to proviso ■for tlxe branding of imported eggs. The necessary regulation has not yet been gazetted, but the Ministry may deal with the matter at any time, and importers of eggs will bo required then to brand each shell so as to indicate the fact of importation and the country of origin “The urgent necessity for ths immediate gazetting of a Government edict for the branding of imported eggs,” says the firm already quoted, was never more apparent if the poultry industry is not goine to be exterminated in this country.” But will the branding of imported eggs save the situation from the point of view of the poultry farmer? There appears to he no doubt (1) that imported eggs of Chinese origin are good in qxality, and. (2) that they can be sold profitably at Is ov Is od per dozen. They cannot take the place of fresh-laid eggs for table use, but they serve all the nurposes of tbe cook and manufacturer. Experience does nob suggest that buyers will pay the extra sixpence a dozen for sentimental or patriotic reasons. “ The simple truth is rhat the poultry industry is threatened with destruction,”'said a gentleman connected with the trade yesterday “ The poultry fanner cannot compete with cheap Chinese products. Land is dear labor is dear, and the prices of wheat) pollard, bran, etc., are abnormally high. The New Zealand poultry farmer' cannot produce eggs to sell at much under Is 6J p«r dozen rts .the average price-, even ip favorable years. If the public prefer to buy' cheap and inferior Chinese stuff, then the poultry industry is doomed. Evan now many poultry farmers are get dug out as quickly as they can. The Government talk of putting some of the returned soldiers on poultry farms. It would be madness to do anything of the kind under the present conditions.”