EGG MARKETING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23699, 4 July 1940, Page 15

EGG MARKETING

SYSTEM OF CONTROL WHOLESALE LICENCES GRADING AND QUALITY [BY TEI.EGRATH—rRF.SS association] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The egg marketing regulations, which were passed by the Executive Council to-day and will come into effect in August, were referred to by the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, in an interview to-day. ''For some years past," said the Minister, "conditions in the production and marketing of eggs have become so disorganised as to constitute a continuous source of worry to producers and irritation to consumers. It has become uecessary to introduce some measure of co-ordination between supply and demand to enable consumers, particularly in the four main centres, to be assured of obtaining a reasonable share of New Zealand's production of eggs at periods when the quantities produced locally are insufficient to meet the demand. Distributors and Producers

"Producers have also suffered as a result of this disorganisation, which has been reflected in violent price fluctuations. To adjust this disability, the regulations provide for the licensing of wholesale distributors in declared marketing areas, and further licensing of producers who desire to sell eggs j>roduced on their own poultry runs by way of wholesale within these areas. "Wholesale distributors in particular will be required to satisfy the Internal Marketing Division, which will administer these regulations, that they have adequate facilities for grading and quality examination of all egus offered for sale to the public. "Through this machinery of licensed' wholesalers the Internal Marketing Division, by co-ordinating all activities, will regulate the supply of eggs in accordance with the consumer demand in each market. This should result in a far greater degree of market stability, which, in turn, will mean greater economic security for individual producers. Grading According to Size

"Consumers will also be vitally interested in additional provisions of regulations which require all eggs sold within the four main centres to be correctly graded according to size, and in the case of all retail sales to be clearlv marked so. A housewife! is able to see at once the grade of eggs offered for sale. . "The following grades will be instituted and purchasers should make sure tli 03' receive eggs of the grade indicated bv " the retailer:—Heavy-weight, not less than 2ioz.; standard, less than '_i but not less than 1 15-160z.; medium, le«s than 1 15-16oz. and not less than 1 9-160z.; pullet, less than 1 9-16oz. but not less than lioz. Eggs of less than lioz. will not be offered for sale by retailers. Publicity Programme

"It is also intended that the Internal Marketing Division should institute a publicity programme for the purpose of assisting housewives in knowledge ot ruling market prices from, day to day added the Minister. "Where any doubt exists as to the grade or quality Ot ee;' T s being sold by any retailer, inquu \ should be immediately made through anv branch of the Internal Marketing Division requesting an investigation. "In the initial stages the regulations are intended to apply, only to the four metropolitan areas, Auckland. \\cllin„ton, Christchurch and Dunedin, as these areas constitute the greatest concentration of consumer demand, but provision is made for extension of regulations to cover additional areas as the need arises. Authority has also been taken by the Internal Marketing Dnision to' control the manufacture and selline of chilled and preserved eggs and e|g pulp."