EGG PRODUCERS ALARMED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24970, 17 July 1942, Page 5

EGG PRODUCERS ALARMED

GRAVE PROBLEMS NEXT YEAR NEW REGULATIONS DISAPPROVED Displeasure at the new regulations governing the marketing of eggs, recently led the Otago Registered Poultry Production Association to communicate with the Minister of Agriculture (Mr J. G. Barclay) outlining the producers' difficulties and suggesting alternatives to the Government proposals. The association contended that the regulations were not in the best interests of the industry, and considered that a grave situation would develop next season unless the industry were more satisfactorily treated. In reply to the association's representations, Mr Barclay lias written, stating that the regulations had been approved, but had not been applied outside the Wellington marketing area in the meantime. “At the present time,” said the Minister's letter, “ there is a lack of coordination which in time of shortage embarrasses not only the Government, but the consuming public as well, and over a period of short supply many cases have been brought forward of consumers who require eggs, such as invalids, young children and nursing mothers, and who have not been able to obtain supplies.” Need for Co-ordination Mr Barclay explained that complaints had been received from the grocery trade that some grocers dealing directly with large producers had almost adequate supplies, while oilier grocers had at times been unable to secure supplies in any way. It was felt that there was urgent need of the co-ordination suggested by the Otago Association. The necessity for this was brought about by the need for rationing in periods of short supply, and for the supplying of the armed and overseas ships, and the desirability of accomplishing a carry-over from the flush production to a later period, probably by a system of chilling, Just how the regulations will be applied or when is a matter for very serious consideration,” the Minister continued, " and it is not intended that anv section of the community shall be allowed to take advantage of war conditions in order to do something which thev were desirous of doing but unable to accomplish in peace-time. I am in complete agreement with your statement of the desirability that the Government and the producer should work in harmony to stabilise the industry and to accomplish a greater production of what is probably the most nutritious and desirable food product under present conditions.” Problem of Distribution

The Government was giving very serious consideration to the egg marketing problem, the Minister added. Officers of the Department of Agriculture and the Internal Marketing Division were investigating all aspects of the position. “ I feel that the producers themselves will ultimately get together in order to assist not only the Government, but the industry itself, and that any necessary procedure to be worked in order to overcome our difficulties will be accomplished without any greater cost to those producers who are now selling their own eggs,” the letter stated. “We should be able to see that distribution is carried out equitably in times of shortage, and that our armed forces obtain a reasonable ration of eggs in relation to what is produced, and the price return to the poultry farmers under these conditions should be reasonable, compared with other avenues of income.”

Mr Barclay’s letter was received at, a special meeting of the Otago Association last night, when members again voiced their unanimous disapproval of the regulations. The chairman, Mr A. C. Goodlet, explained that a further letter hatf been sent in acknowledgment of the Minister’s statement, in which the association again emphasised the points it had previously made