“BLACK MARKETING ”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25428, 8 January 1944, Page 4

“BLACK MARKETING ”

EXTENSIVE TRADING IN EGGS (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 7. According to the chairman of directors of the Central Egg Floor, Mr C Ferguson, “ black ” marketing in eggs has reached serious proportions in the Canterbury egg marketing district. On a turnover involving over 1,000,000 dozen eggs in the 20 weeks to the end of December last, the Central Floor showed a drop in supplies of 150,000 dozen eggs compared with the corresponding period in 1942. Those eggs, Mr Ferguson said, were obviously being sold through illegal channels. Actually, the extent of the “ black ” marketing was even greater, because the eggs received in 1942 did not represent anything like the total that should have come through the Central Egg Floor. It was estimated that an additional 200,000 dozen eggs were not being marketed through the regulation channels. “The position has now become so serious that the Internal Marketing Division has decided to take drastic action against those engaged in the ‘black’ marketing of eggs,” Mr Ferguson added. From Monday all eggs distributed on the Christchurch market through the legal channels would be stamped with the initials of the Central Egg Floor. This meant that traders in eggs not bearing the stamp would be liable to prosecution and to have their eggs confiscated. It was the intention to change the colour of the stamp on the eggs each week. That would enable the Central Floor also to c<jpe with complaints about eggs being stale. '