POULTRY NOTES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, 18 December 1909, Page 1

POULTRY NOTES.

(By "Buff.")

(COMPETITION IN THE EGG TRADE.

Another phase of the South Australian Government's suddenly awakened interest in ber poultry farmers' welfare is brought out in the following extract from the " Sydney Morning Herald," of the 20th ult.:— An explanatory statement concerning the part taken by the South Australian Government in fostering the development of the egg industry in that State was made yesterday by Major Norton, Trades Commissioner in London for the Government of South • Auai^iia. Some particulars were paJßjfejtf&a in the "Herald'" on the s„xinst., showing how the price of eggs in the Sydney market was being forced up by reason pf heavy reductions in the quantities shipped from Adelaide to Sydney, and it was stated that practically the whole of-the egg trade of Souh Australia'- had been taken from private enterprise by a Government Department, which had organised a system of marketing on co-operative lines. As one of the results, Sydney importations fro _ Adelaide fell from over a million dozs. IH X^OS to about 10,000 dozen daring the expired portion of the current year. When discussing the matter. Major Norton said: "In 1894 eggs in South Australia were down to 3%d a dozen, and at no period of that season did they rise beyond -*/_d. At those prices, the industry could not possibly pay. In 1902 and 1903 we built up an export trade with New South "Wales and Western Australia, and by clearing off surplus stocks prices were advanced to 9d and 9*_d — a profitable price. But by 1905 the markets of both New South Wales and WesterAustralia became overstocked, and prices fell to 5 1 /_d. It is considered in South Australia that when the minimum price falls below 6"!_d, the industry is a losing concern. "Statements were Tecently publish ed to tho effect that the Government of South Australia was-isierfering with private industry in the egg 'business. But the Government did not interofero in any way until private enterprise had admitted failure. Private enterprise had exploited the markets that were open in two of the Australian States, and also the English market, and ahd come to tie conclusion that the industry could not bo made to pay. According to their own statements, they could not ship eggs to England profitably. I made a suggestion that the Government should test the English markets. This was in 190G. The suggestion was ridiculed by several of the largest merchants in the egg busines in Adelaide, and one firm went so far as to write to^ the press condemning the idea as a waste of public, money. Another Ade laide merchant told ie personally that it was hopeless to try the English market further. 'Believe me.' he said, 'I am satisfied from my own experience that you will not get 5d a dozen for them.' "Acting on my suggestion, the Government guaranteed the freight on the first shipment nf egrs to Eieland sent forwarl by the P. ar.d O. Britannia iu Dcttfimber. 1906. T reached London a fortnight before the shipment arrived, and succeeded iu placing tbem at a price that left 6%d a dozen net for .the producer. At the time'' tbe e»gs were shipped the priee ruling in the Adelaide market -was 5%d. Tbe following year two shipments were sent to London, with a net result to (he producer of 7%d. "Knowinsr that the principal supplies for the London Christmas trade camo from Russia, I visited Riga in September. 1907. and found that the quantity held in store was comparatively small. This pointed to god prices in London for the Christmas trade. <\ went to one of the largest retailers in London, and with this information in hand I got an offer from him to take 30..000 cases of eggs.each case containing 30 dozen, to be shipped in November at a .price that would have left 7d net to the producer in Adelaide. This offer was not accepted, because at the time eggs were selling in Adelaide at Bd. The reason given for this ruliijg rate was a strong inter-State demand. Later developments proved this to be contrary to fact, as the inter-State trade did not equal that of the previous year. "Tho fact that no eggs were -hipped in 1907 proves conelusively that ; as individuals we were unable to export to England, and for the reason tthat one produeer or One mere-ant would not ship to London and only get 7d net, when his neighbour who Mt tight and held h\- e_frs would probably fret Sd or Od ns th* result nf ! the other man shipping the surplus ,

I outside the State. ' Hence the rw<ba ' for the system that ib bow being inaugurated in South Australia — cooperative egg circles. "The system that we are adopting has been in vogue in Denmark for a long time. I paid a visit to Denmark with the specific object of inquiring into the manner in whieh the system is worked, and found that fully WT! per cent ot the egg trade was done , by the co-operative collecting circle*, i It seemed to me -that such a system .' could very well be adopted in South Australia. Upon my recommendation the Government appointed an organising secretary, and ia finding the funds to organise the system. Once. ' organised it will be controlled by a Board of business men in Adelaide, and on the commencement of the next glut season the Board .will decide- what quantity of: eggs is to be," shipped outride the ..Commonwealth. 1 and each circle will contribute- its portion of the quantity. TOrat_Jnetho3 is somewhat on the lines followed -in Beiimark jand Mildura in the export - of dried fruits. , ! "Unless we secure this «sport *rade to the United Kingdom the poultry industry in South Australia will break down of its own weight, tt is not reasonable to believe tuat such progressive States as New SouthWales and Western Australia are ening for all time to import eggs. Tho. time' cannot be far distant when- t':o markets in these States will be wtolly supplied t»y loeaJ projuesrs. Therefore South Australia mußt depend upon London to take her surplus. "At n low estimate the poultry in; dustry in South Australia is worth £600,000 per annum, and given an expanding market it ought five ye;»« hence to be worth £2,000,000 per annum. We are doing our best to con ; fine the export trade to eggs that srn infertile. Eggs that are guaranteed infertile are worth 2d a dozen more in London than the ordinary kind.'' ■'■■ ■ . , — : ' I