CANADIAN EGGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 14

CANADIAN EGGS.

Sir, —.Again we have Canadian egz<; on our market and again no doubt, we shall have a similar outburst c>/ enraged feelings by our poiiltrykeepers to that of last year. Stiango how some iurp_ to blame everyone but themselves for their > own lack of foresight. To help- themselves seem" the last , thought to enter their heads. Just so soon as something crops up to interfere with (he even tenor of their way, into print they dash, and blame completely and emphatically an already harassed Government for their misfortunes, and demand that which tlipy arc not likely (o get, i.e., duty off wheat. The removal of the duty off wheat would to some extent help, but it would certainly not remedy completely all the ill* from which the industry suffers, • Up t ; li last year the industry had had good times, then camn over-production and a few cases of Canadian eggs. The quantity t f Canadians imported was insufficient to upset our market, had we been properly organised. We are not organised and therein lies the whole trouble. Until such time as we do organise? meet regularly to discuss our own affairs; go to our Government for necessary legislation, with united voice, we must expect to suffer. Endeavours to export were last year (o a great extent defeated by tho producers themselves. The eggs sent in were in some instances so dirty and-smail that they could not be exported. Some' producers send their goods on to the local market in a filthy stf.-te, and still expect top prices. It is grad.ng that has put our lamb, butter and cheese at the top on the markets of the world, and the sama care in grading can save the'poultry industry. Organise our own market; givo the public a guaranteed new-laid graded article and consumption will: rapidly increase. At tho present time a large proportion of the public is afraid to buy eggs, past experiences having been painful. Compulsory grading is as absolutely essential to the poultry industry as it is to the butter, cheese, and meat, industries. I have seen eggs bought as new laid that were bad enough to quell a riot. A properly organised market should not rise to over 5s retail in winter and drop to Is in the flush. By keeping tho retail price r.i a reasonable level ail the year round we are going to accomplish more than we ever can on the present system. At the price of eggs, to-dav not many can afford to buy them, and by tho time they arc again within tho reach, of ' the general public, substitutes have taken their place and the public does not wa'nb them. The population of Auckland is large enough to account for every egg produced, but it must be induced to eat mora than at present. To regain'the sympathy of the consuming public we must give them a genuine graded article at a reasonable price. To accomplish compulsory grading we must organise. Instead < f wailing we must work. Let everyone ioin the association .at present struggling along. We must not wait till the other fellow has done the work. That will to!i-> too long. Let us get in and. help. Our ills are of oar own creating to a largo extent. Let us wake up and right them. Don't squeal, work. Lro. Ayuno., Mahia Road, Manurewa, April 23, 1929.