DEARER EGGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23029, 5 May 1938, Page 11

DEARER EGGS

HOUSEWIVES' FROBLEM POSITION NOT ABNORMAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN'S VIEW The high prices of eggs during the last week or two have been causing grave concern among housewives, who have been asked to pay up to 3s 3d a dozen for first-grade lien eggs in the shops. According to the chairman of the Auckland Egg Marketing Committee, which fixes the wholesale prico of eggs, however, there is nothing abnormal about the position for this time of the year. Commenting on the situation yesterday, the chairman, Mr. A. G. Hackett. explained that the time when prices reached their peak was also the lowest point of production. The supply of eggs was now only about 30 per cent of what it was in the flush of the season. In the height of the season, he pointed out, eggs were supplied by small poultry keepers as well as by the commercial poultry farmers. At the present time practically the only people from whom supplies were being obtained were the commercial poultry farmers. Mr. Hackett said that this year the old birds were laying much later than was usually the case owing to the long spell of warmer weather. They had dropped off suddenly and now practically the only eggs available were pullets'. In his opinion the position had been aggravated by the fact that the young birds seemed to be a trifle backward. and this belief seemed to he generally held. Remarking, that prices showed very little variation from last year. Mr. Hackett pointed out that in 1937 the wholesale price was about 2s Hid a dozen at the peak period; whereas this year it wis :?s 11 Ad. CuiT'-nt levels were admittedly higher than they had been since 1930 prior to the depression, but in the intervening years costs of production had risen sharply. Prior to 1930. when the rate was about 3s 4d a dozen, prices were even higher, and in 1927 were as high as 3s lOd. . There was a shortage of eggs_ all over the? Dominion at the present time. Mr. Hackett continued, and it was interesting to note that the Internal Marketing Department's rate in Wellington was a penny higher than the local price. There was not much likelihood of a fall in price for some time, however, and it was difficult to state whether there would be any further increase. Any upward variation would depend entirely on conditions of supply and demand. WHOLESALE RATES UNCHANGED FIRST CRADK AT 2S 11JD A DOZEN The Auckland Egg Marketing Committee announces that wholesale e<i£ prices are unchanged as follows: Hen: First grade. 2s lljrl a dozen; 15 grade. 2s Sjdi'C grade. 2s 0)d. Duck' First grade. 2s 4Jd a dozen: 11 grade, 2s Ohl: C grade. Is Bjd. Country storekeepers' minimum buying prices for first grade eggs are:—Hen, 2s -Id a dozen; duck, Is lOd.

BUTTER MARKET QUIET LONDON QUOTATIONS EASIER NEW ZEAIAND AT 128/j LONDON, May 3 j The London butter market is quiet. ; Choicest salted New Zealand is quoted ! at 128s per cwt., and Australian at , 1275. Unsalted New Zealand is selling at up to 130s and Australian at 128s. The latest quotations for butter show I a decline of approximately Is per cwt. ; 011 the prices ruling at the close of last week, when New Zealand salted was selling at tip to 1295. Australian has shown a similar decline. The current level for New Zealand, however, is still well in excess of the London landed equivalent of the guaranteed price, which is about 112s per cwt. Rates for unsalted butters show no appreciable change from last week's levels. EXPORT VALUES IMPROVE RECENT DECLINE ARRESTED AUSTRALIAN PRICE INDEX A halt in the decline in Australian export prices is indicated in the latest index figures issued by the Commoriweiflth Bank of Australia. In each of the first three weeks in April the index rose a fraction and in the last week it had almost readied the March average. Since then butter, Thich has been of great assistance, has moved to still higher levels. The index stood at 74.5 at April 21. compared with 73.7 at April 14 and 73.2 at April 7. The average for March was 74.6, that for February 75.4 and that for January 77.1. The corresponding figures in 1937 were March, 100.1, and February, 94.9. The base is 100 for 1927.

The rise between April 14 and April 21 was due to increases in the prices of wheat, butter, sugar and lamb. Base .metals and gold sold at slightly lower prices.

Knrly last year the index rose above the 1027 level. The boom in commodities, which followed the announcement of Britain's armament nrogrnmme, reached its peak in April. The average of the index for that month was 101.9. It had declined steadily since then, except for a brief spurt last Jim*, until the beginning of April. AH commodities except beef and lamb had fallen, the reductions in price being most severe in base metals, wool anci wheat.

SHEEPSKIN SALES VALUES AT DUNEDIN [BT TKLEGRArn —PIIESS ASSOCIATION']. DUNEDIN, "Wednesday The Dunedin Woolbrokcrs' Association reports that at the fortnightly sheepskin sale medium-sized catalogues were offered to a small attendance of buyers. There was fair competition for first-quality full-woolled crossbred and halfbred skins, and these sold on a liar with late ruling rates, short wools being from par to a shade easier. Faulty sorts, however, were neglected, and showed a drop of Id to I '/ad a pound on previous sales. Quotations are as follows:—Halfbred full wools, to OMtd; halfbred three-quarter wools, to B%d; halfbred half-wools, to O/id;, halfbred quarter-wools, to (id; crossbred full wools, to 7?Jd; crossbred three-quarter-wools, to T'/id; crossbred half-wools, to (i'Sd; crossbred three-quarter-wools, to f>V4d; halfbred hog--gets, to 8(1; crossbred hogjrets, to 7%d; first pelts, to •! l /jd; second pelts, to 2%d; fine crossbred full wools, to ft'/id; fine crossbred three-quarter-wools. to 7'Ad; fine crossbred halfwools, to (l'/ 4 d; fine crossbred quarter-wools, to r»y a d; crossbred dead and damaged, 3d to fine crossbred, dead and damaged, -Id to OVJd; halfbred, dead and damaged, 5d to halfbred lambs, to crossbred lambs, to cy«d. STOCKS OF RUBBER LONDON, May 4 Stocks of rubber at the end of April, asi compared with recent months, wer6: — Jap. Feb. Mar. April Tone Tons Tons Tons London .. 30,822 46,464 50,369 54,292 Liverpool . 21,708 24,761 26,199 28,352