The Feilding Star Oroua and Kiwitea Counties’ Gazette MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1930. EXPORTING EGGS

Feilding Star, Volume 8, Issue 2497, 10 March 1930, Page 4

The Feilding Star Oroua and Kiwitea Counties’ Gazette MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1930. EXPORTING EGGS

Au outstanding feature of the conference of representative poultry keepers of (.ho Dominion held in Dunedin last week was the decision after a comprehensive debate that the greatest need of the industry was closer organisation and efficient control mid marketing of eggs in ike market overseas. A very large irmbor of New Zealanders “keep iowU” for their own satisfaction, not so many have a surplus of the product of the hen for local sales, and there are others in very much restricted numbers who put the eggs through the circles for export. To home keepers and exporters alike egg raising is dear, very largely because of the high cost of keeping poultry. Yei the Dominion’s Unemployment Investigation Committee in its recently published report has recommended the keeping of poultry as a means of earning a living. For some year* ra turned soldiers and others have tried this industry, and have not found! it profitable enough. It will surprise our renders to learn that is not more than six or seven year?, since the Dominion became self-sup-porting in the matter of eggs. Prieto 1930 there- was a ccmsideiMble importation, chiefly in the form, of egg pulp, from China. An embargo was placed on imparts on the undertaking tint production would o 'er take consumptive requirements. 1 1 has done so, and moire, for exports have reached almost 3 1-3 million oggs pier annum The Government guarantee is 113 5s per ease of l nifty dozen eggs of maximum size. Thirls equivalent to about 2s 2d per dozen ; but the average price realised in London was about Is 7id [ e.c dozen. The result is that the Government subsidises the export t“ the extent of some £4,000. But the subsidy has not had the desired effect, that there, is little, hone of ex porting being on ai self-supporting basis and that the subsidy -honld sease after the present season. So far as exporting is concerned, there has been over-production, accompanied by a decline in prices for oc ~s. and) accompanying this the sliding scale of wheat- duties has operated to keep j he price of fowl wheat, hi k. until now for the bulk <f£ poultry keepers the industry is non-paying. It appears that the remedy lies in marketing reform, accompanied t.v a reduction in thse price of fowl wheat. There might be a campaign to eat l.v increase local consumption, but to effect the latter result prices would have to come down. The egg is always popular, hut when it nuns to 2d each (it is Is lOd per dozen retail in Feikling to-day), a- bigger local consumption cannot reasonably be expected!. Apparently if is the protection of the wheat growing industry which is the poultry keepers’ heaviest handican. It is the. main cause of the poultry flock reduction which- is said to bo -going otn at (ho present time. Some two million bushels of wheat, apart from bran and pollard,

arc used annually to feed the D.nni’i ion’s feathered flocks, and if has to In' remembered that this outlet for grain not up to milling standard is valuable to the grower. Therefore, the Department of Agriciilforo') brains -should! be used to advise Cabinet how best to help the grain grower and the. poultry keeper so that botkt may be encouraged to keep up their industries.