SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13006, 25 October 1905, Page 1 (Supplement)

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

' THE CONTROL OF THE EGG MARKET. A PRODUCER'S OPINIONS'. Mr. H. Southey, the well-known poultryraiser of Tauranga, in the course of a. communication made to a representative of the Herald on the prospects of the Auckland egg market, expressed himself as extremely glad that those interested in the business Mere at last making a stand against those who had systematically rigged the market against producers for years, bringing prices down to such an extent as to leave hardly a bare pittance for the producer. "For the last three years," Mr. Southey said, "I have advocated combined action, and have received numerous letters in sympathy with the movement', and I trusted to have seen a more universal scheme than the one that has been undertaken. My idea was that all those interested in the poultry business, as far jus Auckland was concerned, should have been invited to attend a conference in Auckland, outlying districts such as mine sending a delegate, who should furnish as near as could be estimated the quantity of eggs the, said district could control, and that" the Government, should be approached with a view. affording free passages as is usual in such conferences, I am given to understand. Some thousand dozen eggs are Bent to Auckland from Tauranga every week during the laying season, aoid it has never been even intimated to us that a meeting of suppliers was to he held in Auckland. "Perhaps you. can say, for the enlightenment of those contemplating going into the business, whether egg-raising pays in your experience?" "It depends upon the price of food. I do not. know if my fowls are doing worse or better than other people's, but this is my position: At. present from 100 young hens I receive about- 30 dozen eggs pet week that is, 60 hens lay every day. They consume during the week 2j bushels of maize and one bushel of pollard. Thirty dozen eggs at 7d, allowing nothing for freight or packing, amounts to 17s 6d, cost of feed 10s, leaving a balance of 7s 6d to pay for time, risk, and outlay. Large numbers of these eggs are bought and potted at- first cost, and are worth in the dear season at' least Is per dozen, a direct profit of 5d per dozen to the consumer. If this is to be considered an equal division of labour, I should like to know where we come in?" "Of course, Mr. Southey, the preserved eggs are put down to meet a scarcity at certain times of the year." " That may he so. but I do notthink that extensive potting or looking to Wellington for a market is required at present. The demand for eggs in Auckland has been unlimited, and it is only a question of price. If we can control the output, as we should do, we could sell the same number of eggs at 9d or lOd per dozen as we now do at 7d. The difference would be that the Auckland potters .vould make 3d per dozen instead of sd, and should get a better article for their money, for if we take the trade under control we must place nothing but' a reliable article oil the market. Our first aim should be to shake off the yoke of the shopkeepers' combination, which has taken the cream from the dairying industry. and which, I am quite certain, has taken both white and yolk from the egg trade, and would have secured the shell could any possible use have been made of it. We producers held-the key of the position, for they can get none of our produce unless we apply, it to them. The trouble has been that most egg-producers have not. been financially strong enough to hold their produce, and so this combine has been able to upon them with impunity, but? I trust that" now this matter has been taken in hand, po stone will l>e left unturned to