EGG SUBSIDY

Evening Star, Issue 25325, 6 November 1944, Page 2

EGG SUBSIDY

RECENT LEVY EXPLAINED Poultry farmers who have been receiving a subsidy of 3d per dozen on all eggs forwarded to authorised egg marketing floors have been called upon to forgo the subsidy on eggs sent to these floors for one week. Some producers have expressed surprise at this levy, which has already been made, and the chairman of the New Zealand Poultry Board, Mr W. G. Spencer, has offered the following explanation for the benefit of those who have not previously received information concerning this matter. " When the Poultry Board approached the Stabilisation Commission in May last with a view to obtaining a subsidy on eggs," said Mr Spencer, " it was suggested to the board that the poultry industry should indicate some method whereby any subsidy recommended would benefit the iudustry on a long-term policy in addition to giving immediate financial help. Accordingly the board made a proposal that the subsidy should be-given up for one week only during the flush season, and that the money thus accumulated should be used for tha following purposes:—(l) To pay the salaries of the four additional poultry instructors of the Department of Agriculture to increase the amount of assistance available from the department to poultry producers. (2) To pay the salary of a whole-time veterinary officer specialising in poultry pathology. (3) .To establish a small poultry plant at the animal research station, Wallaceville, for the purpose of research work in poultry diseases; there being only inadequate facilities for such work at present.

" Poultry producers will, therefore, ultimately benefit considerably from the collection of this levy," continued Mr Spencer. " While at the same time it should be understood that this levy was one of the 'conditions under which the subsidy was finally granted to the industry."