EGG SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24664, 17 August 1943, Page 2

EGG SUPPLIES

AUCKLAND POSITION DIVERSION OF SURPLUS STATEMENT BY MINISTER "Auckland retailers have been rationed for some months in relation to their egg supplies and last week the deliveries were on a basis of 40 per cent of their assessed flush production requirements," said the Minister of Marketing, the Hon, J. G. Barclay, yesterday, referring to the present position in regard to supplies, "For some months, Auckland merchants have been supplying American requirements for hospitals, hospital ships, merchant shipping, Navy and the same ration for American forces as is available to our own armed forces." The Tauranga Surplus Owing to increased production, continued the Minister, there remained on the Auckland floors at the weekend 10,090 dozen eggs and it was suggested that this amount should be placed in chiller for overseas. The head office of the Internal Marketing Division, however, advised that no eggs were to be put into chiller until the New Zealand consumers had obtained their normal requirements, which in Auckland city, were assessed at approximately 80,000 dozen a week, so that the statement that full stocks were available for 100 per cent of Auckland consumption was not accurate. It might be that with the carryover of ] 5,000 dozen, plus the current week's normal supply, there would bo sufficient eggs to supply Auckland city with its full requirements, said Mr. Barclay, hut if this wak so, the division would draw some quantity for Wellington consumers. In fact, instruction had already been given for the Tauranga surplus to be forwarded direct to Wellington instead of coming as usual to Auckland. Flush of Production The flush production of eggs was rapidly approaching and it could be expected that all areas, including Wellington, would receive a welcome progressive increase in supplies. The Internal Marketing Division would, as far as possible, spread the increase t-o all rationed areas in the meantime. An assurance that there was no need for poultrykeepers to be alarmed at the position that had arisen was given yesterday by Mr. W. E. G. Spencer, a member of the New Zealand Poultry Board. There was no fear, he said, of the market collapsing; the position was quite sound. QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED ATTITUDE OF PRODUCERS The Minister of Marketing, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, had not taken the opportunity in his statement to answer the questions put to him on behalf of the industry, stated representatives of tho producers yesterday. They were entitled to know, as 110 doubt the Minister would know, why the sudden cessation of the established system of chilling reserve supplies to meet heavy urgent demands had occurred at the most valuable season of the year for this purpose, or how long the position would continue. Members of the Fgg Marketing Committee will meet to-morrow. At the last meeting of the committee, it was stated yesterday, members agreed that floor supplies 011 a basis of 40 per cent, plus the increased production from household runs, would be almost equal to the full demands of civilians. However, as tho distribution of egg powder had been suspended, there would be a satisfying diversion of shell eggs to pastrycooks and the transfer of Tauranga eggs to Wellington would solve a problem, for Wellington had been even shorter of supplies than Auckland had been. PREFERENCE RATIONING CONTINUATION OF SCHEME (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Monday The continuation of the preference egg-rationing scheme for expectant mothers, invalids and children under the age of five was announced to-day by the food and rationing controller, Mr. J. E. Thomas. Coupons on the rationing cards expire on August 21 and it was proposed to carry on the scheme in the same way as before, but without requiring the cancellation of coupons. in order to do this, said Mr. Thomas, the retailers will be required to compile a register of holders of preference cards registered with them and to mark off 011 the register when the supply was made instead of crossing out coupons 011 the cards. The cards would remain on. issue to new applicants and the existing arrangements for wholesale supply would continue. DEATH OF A BOY ACCIDENT WHILE SHOOTING (0.C.) ■ MORRINSVILLE, Monday A boy died yesterday afternoon as a result of a gunshot wound. He was John Bycroft, 15, of Matamata. The boy had gone out shooting by himself and sometime later he returned to his home in a critical condition, death ensuing shortly afterward. REFUSAL TO SERVE TWO MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Monday A man engaged in business at Lower Hutt as a property salesman, John Finlay Duff, pleaded guilty before Mr. W. C. Harloy, S.M., at the Wellington Magistrate's Court of failing to register with the armed forces. Sergeant. J. C. Fletcher stated that Duff bad been ordered to parade on July 19 and failed to do so. He liad been medically examined and passed grade J. His appeal as a conscientious objector had been dismissed. After replying to the Bench that he was not prepared to serve, Duff "was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. WHARF INCIDENT WEIGHT OF A SLINQ Because a sling of cocoa beans contained one sack too many, Auckland waterside workers had it returned to the ship's hold to have the offending sack removed, according to the master of an overseas vessel. The sling contained nine bags instead of eight and had been | made up in error by new hands, employed in the hold. The extra weight to bo placed in a truck and "the principle of the thing" resulted in the workers causing the crane to drop the sling back into the hold. Under their award waterside workers may take about 12ewt., or as near as practicable, on their trucks. According to the ship's manifests, however, the cocoa bean sacks average 142J1b. Even nine of them, unless all heavier than the average, would make up a weight of only llcwt. oOJlb. Last year when a ship was discharging slings of cargo weighing exactly 12ewt. the watersiders objected and said that the extra few pounds weight of the rope sling made it too heavy to place in a truck. MORE RAIN WANTED (0.C.) GISBORNE, Monday Bleak weather over the last two days has caused lambing losses, but rain is needed to soak tho subsoil, which was dry after two years of low rainfall. This winter's rain is the heaviest for three years, but is still below the average.