OUTGOING EGGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19504, 3 February 1926, Page 8

OUTGOING EGGS

CONTROLLED MARKET WANTED. DEPUTATION FROM POULTRY ASSOCIATION. CONDITIONS IN NE'w ZEALAND. [Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, February 2. The registration of poultry farmers ‘having more than fifty birds and a measure of control of egg exportations and of pulp trade were requests made to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Hawken) this morning by a deputation from the New Zealand Poultry Association, which asked for the introduction of a B 11 designed for the purpose. The president of the Association, Mr Thomas Bruce, said the producers wore suffering through the absence of control and felt they could not continue without it. The Association was prepared to supply all pulp demands for New Zealand, but had to face the competition of importing agents, which affected them very considerably. It was proposed to charge a registration fee of 2s od per head. They asked for consideration of their draft Bill and for legislation during the coming session. One section of the measure controlled egg exportation and another the egg pulp trade. The latter was desired to enable poultry-keepers to work in conjunction with the bakers, who supported their proposals. The Minister said he would go into the matter as soon as possible and give a reply. He assured the deputation, of his sympathy, but suggested that possibly the production cost was a more important question than control. The Government wished to encourage the smaller industries attached to agricultural pursuits. He stressed the value of the egg trade in New Zealand, and said he thought difficulty would be experienced in the registration system be- ' cause of the enormous number subject to control. A tax would be vciy difficult to collect. Mr Bruce thought collection through the Post Offices would be a simple matter. As the deputation -was about to withdraw he referred to the amount of speculation in eggs by agents, and said they wanted to cut the. agents out.