EGG MARKETING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 5

EGG MARKETING

KEEPING UP PRICES. GOVERNMENT DECISION. An assurance to the poultry industry that the Government by purchasing surplus eggs either for pulping or for export would see that there was no disastrous fall in prices was given by the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, when addressing the New Zealand Poultry Producers’ Federation at its annual conference on Thursday. Mr. Nash added that the Government could not undertake the organisation of the industry until there was more agreement among the ranks of its members. The Minister said he realised the importance of the poultry industry, with which the State was likely to be more linked up in the future than it had been in the past. As Minister of Marketing he had several times met the executive of the federation, but although he agreed with the executives views it was a question whether it was at present possible to do what it wanted.

Reasonable Price. “At the last meeting I was satisfied it was not possible for us as a Government to organise the industry as it ought to be organised until we had got better agreement within the industry,” said Mr. Nash. “However, we did owe it to the industry to do something to keep it stable in the meantime, and Mr. Picot and I agreed to take steps to ensure that a reasonable price level was maintained. That was a guarantee that the purchase of eggs for pulping should be so organised that there would not be a demoralising fall in prices as there had been in the past.” Mr. Nash added that the Marketing Department had also made an arrangement with the maize growers which ensured that poultry producers would not have to pay an ultra-high price for feed. At the same time the arrangement did not allow the uncontrolled import of maize to destroy the industry. He had been astonished to learn that the price of fowl wheat was sometimes higher than that of the best milling wheat, and had arranged that the price should be a little more favourable this year. The subject would be discussed again with the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, and he would try to work out a procedure to ensure that the producers would not have to pay an unreasonable price. Present Difficulties. “When the time is opportune and we feel competent and well informed enough, we will try to organise the poultry industry so that the return received by the producer for his product is commensurate with the degree in which that product is necessary to the Dominion,” said Mr. Nash. “Certainly it would be a tragic mistake for the Government to try at present to organise the industry as it ought to be organised. To attempt it and fail might take you back another decade.” Marketing problems of the industry were discussed later by the conference. A remit urging that the federation should oppose Government control of egg marketing and egg prices was rejected. Export Control. The conference agreed that the commission on all eggs and poultry sold by agents be fixed by the Government, and that the Government be asked to proceed at once with a scheme for the marketing of eggs by setting up central grading floors under Government control. It was also decided that the Government be asked to control surplus eggs during the flush season by taking over the pulping and export of eggs. Other recommendations were that a substantially greater quantity of eggs be exported than last year, and that the average export pulp price be not less than the wholesale price on the local market. The conference also decided that urgent steps be taken to introduce uniform egg grading in the main centres, and that retail sales be made according to such grades.