EXPORT OF EGGS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1933, Page 3

EXPORT OF EGGS

SEASON’S FIRST SHIPMENT —— — jMATAROA TAKES 400 CRATES. NEW DOMINION ORGANISATION. The first shipment for the season of eggs for export was loaded on to the Mataroa at Auckland on Wednesday. It consisted of 400 crates, each crate containing 30’ dozen eggs. Last year the export season opened at about the same time with a shipment of 180 crates. A total of 1350 crates was sent away from Auckland during the season, but it is expected that as a result of new organisation and more favourable conditions about double that total will be reached by the end of the present season. , The method of handling the eggs foe export this year is different from that of previous years. In 1929 there was formed in Auckland an export committee, consisting of a number of leading egg merchants, and the Government set up a central grading store- where afl. eggs for export were taken to be sorted and graded and packed under supervision of the Government grader. In the following year there was no export of eggs on account of the Government withdrawing its guarantee of price on all exported eggs. In 1931 the guarantee was ktill discontinued, but the firm of Poultry Producers’ Products undertook export on its own account, and its premises were declared the official Government grading store for Auckland, The premises were open for all to use, but little advantage was taken of this by other exporters. The same conditions applied last year. A UNITED EFFORT. This year a different system prevails., Six of the leading egg merchants of 1 Auckland have joined to form an export committee, and a serious effort is being made to send away every egg . available for export with the main object of holding local prices at something like a remunerative level for the producer. The Department of Agriculture is assisting the committee, in every way possible. The eggs are being packed in the merchants’ own stores as pro-, vided for in the Poultry Act of 1924, on a system similar to that adopted by the butter and the cheese factories. The crates are finally sent to a central grading store to be passed for export. The Government evidently realises the necessity of increasing egg exports, particularly in view of the possibility of a quota, being introduced in England. Unless the Dominion’s exports are fairly substantial this year the introduction of a quota would probably mean almost their elimination. The Overseas Shipping Allotment Committee has allotted space to egg exporters in the Mataroa, which left Auckland yesterday, in the Opawa, which is due to leave between September 15 and 20, and the Rangitata, which is due to leave between September 23 and 29. Space has been reserved for 500 cases on the Opawa and for 600 on the Rangi- ■ tata. Shipments will continue probably until early in November, as , shipping . space becomes available. INCREASED PRODUCTION LIKELY To carry out the policy of the Government energetic committees have been formed in the four centres, with a central committee in Wellington, which- is responsible for the allotment of space to all. Thus, for the first time the export of eggs from the Dominion has been organised on a national scale.. The central committee includes a prominent member of the staff of the Agricultural Department. Production will probably be greater this year than in previous years, due largely to the number of people who are seeking to supplement depleted incomes in a small way by keeping a few fowls. If it were not for this strong national effort to export it is probable, therefore, that eggs would have touched a very low level. The final realisation on last years export resulted in a small loss as compared with local prices; but when the increased local value is taken into consideration it is probable that there was an actual gain to producers. The conditions this year are. slightly more favourable owing to various restrictions that have been imposed on foreign products, to the very dry autumn on the Continent and in England, which has reduced production there, and to the higher rate of exchange. These factors combined should result in exported eggs realising prices equal to, if not, better than, local values. THOROUGH INSPECTION. The preparation, inspection, grading and packing of eggs for export is a very thorough and complicated process. Having been thoroughly cleaned on the poultry farm they are received by the egg merchant for further attention. In a first examination all eggs are rejected for export that show any specks or flaws, roughness or discoloration of the shell or any imperfection of shape. They are passed over a strong light which serves to show at once any spots or unsoundness of the yolk. They are then mechanically graded by weight of each “long hundred” (120), which may weigh either 141 b, 151 b, 161 b, 171 b or 181 b. One of these ingenious machines in use by. Poultry Producers’ Products is capable of weighing as many as 180 crates of ;j eggs in a day. The eggs have to undergo a further final test, when they are examined before a strong light in order to see that the air cell within is normal and satisfactory. If no fault is to be found there, they then receive the official stamp which certifies them as worthy to represent the produce of New Zea- ; land on the London market.