MARKETING OF EGGS

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20690, 28 December 1938, Page 8

MARKETING OF EGGS

GOVERNMENT SUPERVISION MINIMUM SELLING PRICE For many years conditions under which eggs are marketed in New Zealand have required attention and the lack of some central body with sufficient authority to influence marketing has been felt by producers, statps the ! annual report of the Internal Market- ! in? Department. I The main problem with epp marketing is the ‘ flush” period, approximately from September to January, I during which time egg-production is at its highest. As a consequence, prices are at their lowest at this period. and the absence of any co-ordin-ating body allows unrestricted transfers of supplies to markets which are unable to absorb them at prices payable to the producer. Thus the advantage to the poultry-keeper of the period of highest production has been largely nullified by the low prices received. A further factor is that of production by domestic flocks which, mainly due to unscientific rearing, come into production at this period, and thus accentuate the marketing difficulty. For these reasons the Division has rendered assistance to the poultry industry in the following manner :

Last season the Division supervised and handled the export of eggs from New Zealand hv giving a guarantee of is Id per dozen in grading-store for all eggs exported. This action was taken in order to ensure that a minimum selling-price could be assured to the producers so far as the local market was concerned, and. whilst a comparatively small quantity of eggs was actually exported, the effect upon the market as a result of such export immediately made itself apparent. The net result of the transactions show that sales realisations were short by £468 of the amount paid to suppliers. Activities to be Continued In view of the fact that quantities for the ensuing season will be greater even than last year, the Division will continue its activities in this direction. The Division’s supervision of the marketing of egg-pulp is also one of the main factors affecting local prices. ■Care was taken to see that the demands for export and for egg-pulp did not conflict. Merchants were requested to refrain from fulfilling their requirements of winter pulp until after exporting had ceased, thus savins a continuity of market stabilisation. From the consumers' viewpoint the manufacture of egg-pulp is important, on account of the fact, that this pulp largely provides for the requirements of bakers and manufacturers during the winter period when prices of fresh eggs are high. If manufacturers and bakers were in the open market for frpsh eggs at this period, the result would be that prices would rise even higher. It might be mentioned at this point that the generally increased prosperity within New Zealand resulted in a far stronger demand for eggs during the period when prices normally begin to rise, that is at the beginning of the winter months. Investigations are being continued with the object of improving the marketing-conditions.