THE EGG INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1977, 19 November 1921, Page 4

THE EGG INDUSTRY.

Poultry-raisers in New Zealand have received a set-back in recent months, largely on account of the failure of the Government to afford them reasonable encouragement. In the first place, Chinese egg pulp has been permitted to enter the Dominion in considerable quantities. It has, in fact, been “dumped” upon the market. This article should be subjected to reasonable taxation. Then, the embargo placed upon the importation of fowl-wheat is entirely unwarranted. If all the locally-grown wheat is required for domestic purposes, there is no earthly reason why Australian wheat should not be made available to the poultry raisers. A charge of 10/ or 11/ per bushel for fowl-wheat is simply outrageous. • It means that both the egg-producer and the consumer are penalised. It is ridiculous to say that seco/id and third grade wheat is of greater value than first-grade. And yet this is what, our Board of Trade permits the wheat-growers to ijiake the public believe. The wjmle business is unsatisfactory, and requires prompt and searching investigation. A few years ago, fowl-wheat could be purchased for 2/6 and 3/ per bushel. Can anybody reasonably suggest that the increased cost of production justifies a 400 per cent, increase in the price of this commodity? If fowl-wheat were available at its proper price, the poultry industry Would not be languishing, as it is at present, and the public would be receiving its eggs and its poultry at a reasonable price.