THE EGG MARKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19240, 2 August 1924, Page 2

THE EGG MARKET.

POSSIBILITIES OF TEADE. THE DOMINION’S OPPORTUNITY. LONDON BUYERS EAGER TO PURCHASE. Merrett, of Christchurch, the well-known ponltrv expert, who represented New Zealand at the World’s Poultry Congress, held at Barcelona, Spain, and who returned to the Dominion by the Corinthic from London and Southampton, arrived in Dunedin on Thursday evening. While in London a few months ngo Mr Merrett did " ,R utmost to further the interests of New Zealand s poultry farmers, and he was sucin securing largo orders for eggs, which, on their arrival in London, were found to bo in 'erfcct condition, and. as a result, English buyers besieged Mr Merritt with requests to obtain further consignments, Ihe primary object of Mr Merrett 1 s tour was to attend the World’s Poultry Congress in Spam. but ho made the most of his opportunities to extend the egg market at Homo for dominion producers. He also visited tho Continent, and toured through France. Belgium, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and other countries. Mr Merrett was accompanied by his wife. In the course of an interview by a Daily Times reporter, Mr Merrett said that tho first shippment of New Zealand eggs was sent to England in September, 1523, and consisted of 60,000 dozen. They arrived in excellent condition, and mot with a ready sale The first shipments were sent from Now Zealand under Mr Mcrrett’s supervision, and the-- were sold to South Island producers. After paying expenses, these eggs realised Is 3d to Is 4d a dozen, which was considered very satisfactory. Buyers in London wore more than surprised by the excellent quality in which the eggs arrived, and the last shipment actually realised a better price than that at which English eggs were selling at tho time. This was duo to the fine grading and packing of the eggs, under tho supervision of Government officials, and they were equal in grade to any on the London market, and there would be no difficulty in disposing of many times tho number of eggs sent by the first shipment. A very great deal of work, continued Mr Merrett, was carried out by tho High Commissioner s staff in London, and Sir James Allen and his assistants did their utmost to make his mission a success. In order to give London buyers an opportunity of learning something o£ the possibilities of trade with Now Zealand’s poultry-farmers a luncheon was given at the Hotel Cecil. Tho Prime Minister (Mr Massey) and Sir James Allen attended tho function, at which he (Mr Merritt) was invited to speak. Ha dealt with the possibilities of trade with New Zealand in eggs, and referred to the excellent condition in which the shipments had arrived at Home. Horne of the largest buyers in London congratulated tho New Zealand Poultrymcn’s Association, of which he had been secretary for 13 years, on its endeavour to build up trade, and stated that they were prepared to give the dominion every encouragement. By the time three shiploads of eggs bad arrived at London, English buyers were so pleased with the quality, that before ho (Mr Merrett) left, they urged him to give them preference if he could arrange further shipments. They were also so anxious to secure Now Zealand eggs that they gave him orders up to 100,000,000 dozen eggs for the next three years, which was actually far more than New Zealand and Australia were able to produce at present. Mr Merrett said that tho policy the Poultryrnon’s Association endeavoured to carry out was that ihe eggs went direct from producer to the consumer, and to buyers who used eggs in a very large way. From what he had seen at Homo there appeared to bo no reason why tho poultry industry in tho Dominion should not bo developed, and, as there was practically no limit to the demand for eggs in London, New Zealand producers , would always find a good market for their output. It was very desirable, continued Mr Merrett, that tho present high standard of New Zealand eggs should be maintained, and for that reason they should not be sent out of the country without having been passed by the Government graders. Denmark sent £5,000,000 worth of eggs annually to England, and Holland, £2,000,000 worth. The total importation of eggs in England last year amounted to £13.000,000, yet of that vast amount the Empire only supplied £250.000 worth. Buyers and consumers in London were prepared to give preference to colonial trade, and eggs from Australia and Now Zealand reached England daring that country’s winter when none of the Continental countries were able to supply the demand. Consequently, as Australia and New Zealand had such an advantage it should be made use of, particularly as such a good beginning had been mode. It was remarkable that out of the first shipload of 500,000, onlv two eggs were found broken on the arrival of the vessel at Southampton, and not one complaint in regard to a had egg was received concerning anv of the New Zealand shipment. Careful handling in Now Zealand, a steady temperature on board ship, with the supervision of unloading at London, made such a performance possible. Last season No v Zealand shipped 1,500.000 eggs; it could have sent another 1.000.000, as quite that number were now tied up in cold storage. It was the intention of the New Zealand Poultrymon’s Association during tho coming spring to endeavour to double tho export of eggs; yet, in spite of that, there would be plenty to fill tho local demand. If sufficient eggs were not retained, it would mean that permission would have to bo granted for the importation of Chinese egg-pulp, which had been forbidden for the last three years. In conclusion, Mr Merrett remarked that tho Association was now endeavouring to promote a federation of poultrymen in Now Zealand and Australia in ordqr to fill the London orders winch ho had previously referred to. These orders must be accepted, and tho poultry industry must grow till they were filled, and it would also mean that tho eggs would go straight from tho producer to the consumer, thus eliminating the middle-man’s profit. An excellent advance price could bo given to producers as soon as the eggs were shipped, while the final returns were forthcoming eight weeks after the eggs left the dominion. Such an arrangement would mean sound prices and that the surplus from the dominion would bo disposed of satisfactorily.