EXPORT OF EGGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 14

EXPORT OF EGGS.

FIRST SHIPMENT'S RETURN. LESS THAN THE GUARANTEE, BETTER PRICES ANTICIPATED. Advico has been received in Auckland that tho first shipment of New Zealand eggs by the Curinthic realised £3 3s a case of 30 dozen on tho London market 1 his price is 2s a caso short of the Government guaranteed return of £3 ss. but, according to expert opinion expressed in Auckland yesterday, the results from this first shipment do not moan that the guar antofc will necessarily be called upon Ihe guarantee covers tho whole of tho export mg season and it was suggested the next shipment which is due in London bv the lonic in the first week of next month will probably realise prices in excess of 'he guaranteed return, thus neutralising the deficiency on tho first shipment, which was considered to be a little too early for the market.

No Auckland eggs wcro sent by the Corinthic, but included in the lonic's total of 2400 cases are 229 casos from producers in this province The Port Dar win, which was to have loft Wellington yesterday, is carrying 2400 cases, including 216 from Auckland. The packers are now engaged in completing the shipment which is to bo placed on board the Mataroa at Auckland next week, the last boat which will take this season's eggs under the guarantee. Disappointment at the response made by poultrvmen to tho appeal to provide eggs for export was voiced yesterday by exports, who seo in the fostering of tho export market the way out from low prices during the poak of production and tho stabilisation of egg values during the year. The Government guarantee is equal to a return of Is 4d a dozen, or twopence more than present local values. An advance of Is Id a dozen is obtainable on shipment. It was suggested that poultrykeepers were not accustomed to the idea of exporting and that they preferred the cash at the market to the advance and tho subsequent time for tho balance of their money. The Auckland Egg Export Committee has worked hard to encourage interest in tho market overseas, but the shipments which have been made so far have not had any material effect on the local market, which remains lower than it has been for some years.

Temporary lack of an outlet for the eggs rather than over-production was a reason advanced by a merchant yesterday for tho weak state of the market. He said pastrycooks had ordered egg-pulp last year on the basis of their normal requirements over tho previous three years, but they had found that with the general depression of trade during the winter months there was not the same demand for their goods. Consequently, they still had a supply of egg-pulp on hand and it was necessary to get rid of this before they came on the market for new season's eggs. Carrying tho pulp over to next season would involvo them in cold storage charges, which would result in losses. As such traders during their buying period take up to 500 dozen eggs a day it would bo seen how their -absence from tho market would affect prices.