AN EGG FAMINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13724, 14 April 1908, Page 6

AN EGG FAMINE.

CONDITIONS IN WELLINGTON. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. There is no news of any abatement of the egg famine. The retail price of fresh eggs in Wellington to-day is from 2s 2d to 2s 6d per dozen, and many of these eggs apparently have been imported from Dunedin and other parts of the Dominion. Palmerston North also reports a difficulty in getting supplies. Those who are the most sorely hit are the bakers, but even the eggfarmers have cause for a little grumble. Feed has been so dear that they recently reduced their stocks of laying hens considerably, and their ability to take advantage of the present demand for eggs is, therefore, limited. The wholesale price of eggs in Wellington for some years past has averaged at least Is 2d a dozen, which, at the moderate yield of 150 eggs for the full 52 weeks would yield 14s 7d per annum per bird. Meanwhile consumers, and particularly bakers, are looking for substitutes. There are many preserved eggs of highly mysterious qualities on the market, and Chinese eggs, dried eggs, and tinned eggs are also used. There are tinned eggs of which the "whites and yolks are tinned separately, and they are said to make good, cheap, wholesome substitutes for fresh eggs when correctly treated, but at present their use is almost- wholly confined to tradespeople. Chinese eggs are said to be packed in huge casks in chaff, or other absorbent material, which is saturated with a secret fluid known only to the Chinese. Those traders who have handled Chinese eggs say this secret, preservative surpasses the popular water glass in its preserving powers.