EGG MARKETING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22820, 30 August 1937, Page 12

EGG MARKETING

Sir, —Mr. Gorden Elley now takes \ip the cudgels on behalf of the egg marketing scheme. In New South Wales V eggs are taken to one central building and graded there, agents take delivcrv and-distribute to retailers, the board fixing the price. It is proposed to do the same in Auckland except that grad- ; ing would be done at a number of stores in the city. The New South Wales board deducts ! 13| per cent with a likely, increase because of losses. Private enterprise in Auckland and Hamilton is giving this service at a cost of 7} per cent, plus per dozen for delivery. The proposed Auckland committee would be another charge on the industry and the producer will have to. pay, just how much we don't know. Oranges are not the only things that go rotten when prices are fixed higher than consumers will pay. My authority for stating only 5 per cent o| all poultry is kept by the large poultry farmer is Mr. J. H. Ivissling. poultry expert of Massey College. Writing in Poultry (-March 27, 1937) he said, "Mr. E, J. Fawcett. . farm economist, Department of Agriculture, has shown that nearly Do per cent of the eggs produced in New Zealand come from owners of less than 50 fowls. I don't admit those keeping less than 100 fowls arc not interested in • marketing costs. Mpoy of these people are family men receiving the basic wage and keep fouls to augment their small income. They generally sell their eggs to the local grocer, and if forced to market through a depot miles from home will probably be forced out of business. These people,whom .\fr. Ellev-.evidently considers of "littl<C importance to the industry number 162,730 of n total of 16-5,949 poultrykeepers in Now Zealand.

Satisfied.