THE EASTER EGG

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16317, 18 April 1927, Page 6

THE EASTER EGG

MINISTER THINKS IT DEAR POULTRYMEN’S EXPLANATIONS (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this. day. A poultry-keepers’ depuation to the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. O. J. Hawken, could hardly bo expected to end without some reference to the soaring price of the Easter egg. It was the Alinister who mentioned the subject, tho poultry-keepers no doubt being quite content to silently enjoy the position. Mr. Hawken declared that lie was much interested in eggs, and as a householder, he knew what he had to pay for them —about 3s per dozen just now. The deputation felt that it was being put on the defensive, and one speaker gave a promise of cheaper eggs in the near future, if the industry gets encouragement. He explained that at times during the year, the price of eggs dropped low whenthe bakers held off purchasing, hoping to get eggs cheap for pulping. A little arrangement which the deputation suggested for improving this business,' and at the same time developing the export trade would, the Alinister was assured, so encourage owners of poultry to extend their flocks that there would be more birds in the Dominion,, and a correspondingly larger supply of eggs in the winter and spring. Then, it was inferred, eggs would be cheaper, ;aq the present -high ..price is purely a "rmntter of heavy demand at a time - when the hens : are not laying .up to average. The export season, it was also explained, is a very limited one, rdnging at the most from August to the end of October.