H—3OA,

to Wellington from other floors according to the relative supplies and needs of all areas Quantities transferred to Wellington were— Eggs Transferred to Wellington from other Floors Fr om 1945. 1946, TT Dozen. Dozen. Hamilton .. .. .. .. 13,320 5,400 Auckland 42,150 49,550 Tauranga .. .. .. .. 48,180 21,705 Gisborne .. .. .. .. 44,370 77,934 Hastings .. .. .. ..111,780 128,530 New Plymouth .. . . .. 137,970 218,598 Wanganui .. .. .. .. 97,950 117,191 Palmerston North .. .. .. 86,340- 113,580 Carterton .. .. .. ..210,660 208^077 Blenheim .. .. .. .. 32) 017 80,332 Chnstchurch .. .. .. ..442,830 281 040 Timaru 71j 94 0 63 555 Ashburton .. .. .. _ - g 280 Nelson .. .. 19,977 1,339,507 1,393,749 Imports Since production is not yet, despite improvement, adequate to meet the stillmcreasing demand, arrangements are being negotiated with Australia for further egg-pulp for bakers and pastrycooks' winter needs. Such imports make it possible to use fewer of our own shell-eggs for the egg-pulp, and thus avoid competition with household consumers for winter s small supply of fresh eggs. The Division therefore, at the close of last pulping season, purchased a further 12,000 forty-pound tins of egg-pulp from Australia (equivalent to 360,000 dozen eggs), thus increasing the original 1945-46 purchase to 1,620,000 dozen equivalent. Recent importations from Australia are as follows : Dozen Eggs Equivalent. 1942-43 .. .. .. 2,722,020 1943-44 .. .. .. 2,286,732 1944-45 .. .. .. 2,662,107 1945-46 .. .. .. 1,620,000 1946-47 .. .. .. 2,000,000 (estimated maximum) ■ Less pulp was imported in 1945—46 because the Division arranged with NewZealand pulp-manufacturers to make more egg-pulp than hitherto without seriously reducing household supply. A larger importation for 1946-47 is proposed because world wheat shortage promises to retard the increase in New Zealand egg-production which had been expected. The Division is carefully watching developments in order to plan its pulping programme in such a way as to avoid dislocating other supplies. Chilling During the year the Division chilled more eggs than in any previous year, putting mto cool store during the flush season : Dozen. Auckland .. .. .. ..125,060 Wanganui .. .. .. .. 49,230 Wellington .. .. .. .. 32,400 Christchurch .. .. .. 47 } 250 Total .. .. .. 253,940

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