EGG FAMINE IN AUCKLAND

Southland Times, Issue 24755, 28 May 1942, Page 4

EGG FAMINE IN AUCKLAND

Reference To Black Market (P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 27. The egg shortage in the Auckland district, which has been progressively acute over recent months, has been accentuated to the stage of a virtual famine, according to a statement issued by the Auckland wholesale egg distributors. Except for a few districts, where shops are supplied direct by egg. producers, the majority of the retailers will be without supplies. The statement issued by the distributors is as follows: “Mr Honeyfield, of the Internal Marketing Division, has instructed Auckland wholesale egg distributors that until a special order from the armed forces is fulfilled no retail shops are to be supplied with eggs. Distributors are co-operating with the Government in the supply of these eggs, despite the fact that it is seriously prejudicing their business connection with retailers. The majority of egg producers are loyally assisting in sending in their eggs through licensed wholesale channels, but unfortunately a section of the producers are supplying a black market. Many cases are known, and as an illustration a foreigner in the restaurant business has been going among egg producers and buying ungraded eggs at retail prices and has thus included many small eggs, the public being victimized in the purchase of their food. Wholesalers, distributors and poultry keepers consider that the present situation is unsatisfactory, and the Government has, been considering bringing down regulations which will marshal the whole of the production of eggs with the object of enabling a more orderly distribution to be made.” Representatives of a distributing house stated that under a recent department instruction, which became operative today, no eggs would be held for shops. Distributors expected that the acute shortage of eggs would continue for some considerable time.