PRODUCTION OF EGGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15521, 31 January 1914, Page 7

PRODUCTION OF EGGS.

GROWING EXPORT TRADE. EXPERIENCES IN CANTERBURY. [»T TELEGRAPH. coebespondbnt.] Cheistchubch, Friday. The annual report of the Canterbury Egg Circle shows an increase in membership of 72, and that the number of eggs sold during the past year was 36,250 dozen, representing u value of £2432. The report states that all of this money, with the exception of one penny per dozen for marketing, goes to the producers. The highest price obtained was 2s 6d per dozen, and the lowest price lid. the average for the year being Is 3d per dozen.

The experiment of shipping eggs to Vancouver proved a great success. In a trial shipment there were large losses in breakages and frozen eggs, but the fact that some of the eggs sold at 2s Id per dozen shows that the quality was regarded as good. The circle intends exporting on a larger scale during the coming season, and experimental shipments will be sent to American ports in addition to Vancouver. The Panama canal will place New York within easy distance for shipment, and given suitable freight storage, this splendid market will be available to New Zealand. San Francisco will also welcome Canterbury eggs in winter, so that the industry has a bright future before it.

The egg circle movement has to improve the quality of the eggs placed in the market, and retailers find no difficulty in getting from 2d to 3d per dozen more for the ordinary farm eggs than under former conditions. It is considered that the losses in Canterbury each year from faulty marketing run into thousands of pounds. Inferior prices, bad eggs, breakages—all contribute to heavy losses.