EGGS AND CHICKENS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 7 April 1915, Page 5

EGGS AND CHICKENS

EFFECTS Of -DEAii FEED, Regret, was; expressed at the New Zealand Poultry Conference oil Saturday that New Zealand's export of eggs had been most disappointing. jNot so much on the score of poor marked prices at destination as the wretched shipping accommodation, which spoiled, more ' than half the eggs. Something in the line of improvement in chilling will have to be doriS 'before" (the export trade could bo further developed. It was lamentable tb tbink that for an 18-day trip eggs could not be carried satisfa-ctorily,- vxit arrived di'ipping with water. The war had jio doubt interfere'd" with the industry. The demand for eggs was not nearly so great owing to the suspension of passenger itraffic to and from England. 'Several thousands of young men had left England and lessened the' consumption of eggs. The high price of poultry foods had proved the greatest obstacle to the welfare of 'the industry. While eggs had not improved in price, food now cost exactly ctorfble what, it cost'last year. "Unless the Government intends to see the industry absolutely ruined, and their own work, , costing thousands of pounds, sacrificed (stated the secretary, Mr Merrett), something will have to 'be done to relieve the presesure of dear f6ods. Many of our producers assign 1 the high,price to commercial exploitation, buit a study of the market will show a decided shortage compared with the demand. An instance may be gathered from the /"Sydney Daily Telegraph" of the 26th February, wheerin 310 tons of wheat were manifested, compared with 3613 tons on the corresponding day of last year. A study " f the "daily business 'shows the great shrinkage of supplies compared with Inst year. With such a market it is no wonder our wheat and' oats have risen in price. The Government embargo on exports of grains may somewhat ease matters for us. The high prices of foods will result in. a great 'clearance of cull stock. It will also stimulate interest in trying other foods' which may be to our economical advantage.' , f The ' "terrible stress of the Belgians in the, loss of all their poultry stock, especially those fancy breeds dear to their hearts, calls ' for our sympathy. Distance will prevent our shipping stock to them, but we may supplement. the efforts of English poulti'ymen, and,send our quota of cash to be.used in the purchase of stock 'when the enemy is driven -from Belgian soil. The spirit of co-operation" in marketing and purchasing" of'foods is moreapparent among poultrymen, and during the coming year we may look for extensive organisation along this line. With our united support this association should make remarkable (progress, and be an educational factor to all engaged in the industry." / • In his addiess, the retiring President dwelt at length upon the heavy 'increase in the pr,ica of feed and the ! practically stationary price of eggs. ' His, personal experience was expressed in the following table of prices of feed and eggs:— i Wheat." Bran. Pollard. 7 • Bushel. Ton: Ton. •' Before the war 4s 2d £4 ,5s £6 18s To-day .... ... .7s 2d £8 5s- £9 10s Prices of eggs (Wellington):— Per doz. Per doz. * 1914.- 1915. Jan. Is Id to Is 4d ls'2tf to Is 6d Feb. Is 6d to Is 7d Is 6d to Is lOd March Is 6d to Is lOd Is 7d to 2s' 2d The President deplored the heavy importation of eggs from abioad, and, expressed the view that if, as was emphatically the intention of some interested parties, the duty .on eggs were removed or 1 reduced, the poultry industry of New Zealand would have an irretrievable setback, to the manifest disadvantage of the people of the Dominion as a whole.