CRISIS FACED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22314, 26 April 1947, Page 3

CRISIS FACED

EGG PRODUCERS DANGER OF IMPORTS ORDERLY MARKETING NEED (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 26. A crisis faced the egg-producing industry in New Zealand and also the public, said Mr. J. W. McGlinchy, chairman of the New Zealand Poultry Board, at a meeting of the Canterbury and Westland Registered Poultry Keepers' Association on Thursday night. The egg floors in some of the chief consumer centres were not receiving sufficient eggs to fill „ even priority orders for hospitals and other purposes. No Government could stand being “shot at" by an unsatisfied consumer public and the importation of eggs might be resorted to. This would spell ruin for the industry in New Zealand. Mr. McGlinchy's appeal to producers resulted in a unanimous decision to send 80 per cent of the output to the egg floors for the next six weeks, or two months, until supplies improved. Statistics showed that there were as many eggs in the country as three or four years ago, said Mr. McGlinchy. This was proved from census returns of poultry and from the Wheat Committee’s records of food going to the industry. The industry had not had a fair spin in the past, but recently every recommendation in the cost-of-production survey had been approved by the Government and now, he believed, there was a fairly favourable outlook. The present shortage had been aggravated by poultrykeepers selling eggs at their gates, instead of putting them through Moors. These sales to consumers were legal, but the bulk sales to business concerns should not be made. For their livelihood poultrykeepers must support organised marketing to ensure that all reasonable demands were met. In 10 months the "through-put” of the floors in New Zealand had declined by 1.500,000 dozen eggs, yet production had not declined. Commercial concerns obtaining eggs bv gale sales were interested only in profit, and would not be concerned if the poultry industry was endangered by imported eggs. The Government was prepared to help the industry so long as it produced the goods. Mr. McGlinchy said there had been some heart-burning about the standard mash, some of which could be attributed to recipes being varied because of shortages of certain ingredients. The higher extraction of flour had affected poultry food, but the industry was not squealing. A producer member of the Poultry Board. Mr. T. S. Dove, said a post-war egg marketing plan was being submitted to the Minister. All concerned should realise that organised marketing was for their benefit. If all controls were lifted, the Dominion’s industry could not compete with Australia. where housing costs for poultry were 75 per cent cheaper. The weather there was more suitable and foods were plentiful and cheap. If organised marketing was supported he believed the industry had a bright future. Mr. Dove answered questions, pointing out that there was a heavily ini creased demand for eggs with meat rationed, and tinned fish and other food short. People naturally turned to eggs for hot breakfasts and teas, and this accounted for the heavy demand. Production for the Dominion had not declined, but Canterbury bad fallen from first to third place in production. This presented a challenge. Mr. R. Sullivan, an officer of the Internal Marketing Division in charge of eggs in the South Island, supported these appeals. The division, he said, wished to see the producer and the consumer satisfied. He said organisation and co-operation were essential.