THE PRICE OF EGGS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 110, 15 June 1914, Page 6

THE PRICE OF EGGS.

To the Editor of TEE SUN. Sir,—ln your Saturday's issue your correspondent" Grit" makes reference and expresses surprise to my announcement that the wholesale price of eggs in winter should not exceed 2/-' a dozen. Knowing you desire to promote industrial progress in Canterbury, further comment on the subject might prove enlightening to poultry producers. For several winters I have noted that the desire to raise eggs to 2/6 a dozen is unnecessary and unwise. We have in tlie Dominion better winter layers, and an increased production, and yet this old ambition to. force the public to pay 2/6 to 2/9 a dozen is as strong as ever. What happens?;. Immediately the price is raised, , consumption drops 75 per-

cent. Any grocer will tell you this. No working man can afford to pay 2/© to 2/9 a dozen for eggs. Supplies da not lessen, and producers are placed in the position of having eggs accumulate, and down the price goes in less than a month to 1/6. It must be obvious that if we keep the price reasonable eonsumption continues, .and a better average price is obtained. Less than a. month ago eggs touched 2/6 a dozen, to-day they are offered at nearly 1/- a dozen less. Can there be sound judgment in marketing in this way? The reason is eggs laid three weeks ago are still in the market to compete against the increased production of the present. Consumers have been scared, and it will take them months to get back to the same purchasing power. The public should be encouraged to eat eggs. They are perishable, and as they accumulate prices fall. Fancy losing an order for 700 dozen eggs, from Christ'chureli, because. poultrymen demanded 2/6 for eggs. Th,e order was taken to Wellington, and' supplies purchased at 2/l_ grows , the wheaty and yet producers in the north .sell at lower rates. It may seem a good thing to e±tract the last penny from the public,. ■b\it ; what is the *a»e 3of. getting a fewpence extra for a week or two, and then lose 6d a dozen when, eggs are plentiful t j A short time ago, whejp butter was re-, i ported scarce, holders raised the price to 1/6, and thought to make a rise. - It . | lasted three weeks. Every mother turned on the jam, honey, syrup, and i treacle, and in place of buying. 41b a i weiek at 1/2, purebased lib' at 1/6. . Sellers soon learned their mistake, and dropped the price to encourage consumption. Poultrymen should take-note of this. Again ? this^,winter we bave had 15,000 dozen eggs landed in: New. Zealand from Petalu'ma. "Whatman encouragement for them to compete against us. when ,we raise/ the price so high, and what a danger for the public to agitate for the removal of-the 30 per eent..duty on eggs.. I approve#a limit of 2/- dozen in winter, abd 1/- whole- ; sale ; in. summer. ; If producers /were unanimous-this could be so; While the presient iiupetust: of Vgraft R is dered among; producers, • the S erratic prices of the past month wiir continue, to exist. Meat is getting- dearer each year, and what" poultrymen want to dois to encourage the public to consume wholesome fresh eggs, but it cannot be 'done when the demand for exorbitant prices holds sway. I write these suggestions not as a salesman only, but* as one of the ten largest egg producers ia Canterbury.—l aift, etc., "" : J. B. MERRETT, . Secretary Caaierbiiiy.Egg Circle. . Christehurch, , ;