BRITISH EGG MARKET.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20497, 16 March 1932, Page 18

BRITISH EGG MARKET.

AUSTRALIAN TRADE. " % REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT. (from our own corbespondent.) LONDON, February 4.' The Trade and Navigation returns just published disclose some interesting figures in the egg of Great Britain. For the year 1931 the eggs consumed were valued at nearly £49,000,000. Of this vast sum no less than £13,768,338 worth were imported. Denmark supplied eggs valued at £4,405,000, the Irish Free State coming next with £2,270,000. ''A most significant item in the l returns, '' said Mr J. B. Merrett (formerly of Ghristchurch), of the Australian Egg Export Company, "is the quantity shipped by Australia and South Africa, totalling in value just over a million sterling. Australia shipped during the past season over 107,000,000 eggs, as against 70,000,000 for the 1930 season. Her export of eggs was put on a commercial basis by New Zealand in 1923. In that year South Africa was importing eggs, and Australia exported only a small quantity. Each year Australia and South Africa liavei grown as the Governments of both countries gave th» industry every encouragement. Australia is endeavouring to ship ,n million pounds' worth of eggs for 1932. "It is generally conceded that a duty will be placed on foreign eggs into Great Britain. This should give a great incentive to the Dominions to increase production. The past season has been favourable to Australia. The exchange has given producers about £170,000. The relinquishment of the gold standard curtailed shipments of eggs from Holland, Belgium, and France, while tho 'Buy British' campaign gave a great incentive to the

purchase of Dominion eggs. South African producers suffered an adverse exchange of about £ 50,000, but the Government of t&e Union subsidised the producers ten per cent., which gave them, about £40,000. Frozen Liquid Eggs. "Another feature of Australia's egg industry," said Mr Merrett, "is the shipment of frozen liquid eggs. It is estimated thatthe sales for the season will be £ 100,000. • Practically the whole of the trade is done by China, and totals for 1931 £2,646,287, or 98 per cent, of the whole, as against 99 per cent, in .1930. New Zealand does not figure much in the export of eggs. This is to be regretted, as the New Zealand article is popular on this market. The possibility of an enormous trade is before the Dominions as the opposite seasons enable shipments, to arrive here in the scarce time of production."

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