MARKETING OF. EGGS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21409, 27 February 1935, Page 8

MARKETING OF. EGGS

WORK OF PRODUCERS' FEDERATION .MEETING OF WOOLSTON BRANCH The aims and some of the achievements of the Board of the New Zealand Poultry Producers' Federation were fully explained to a meeting of the Woolston branch of the federation held at Woolston last evening by Mr S. F. Marshall, the member of the board for Christchurcli. Mr V. Turner presided, and there was a large attendance of local and visiting producers. Mr Marshall recounted to the meeting the history of the federation, and summarised its present activities. Before 1932, Mr Marshall said, the only organisation in operation was tire New Zealand Poultry Keepers' Association, which was very useful to the industry. It was hampered, however, by its comparatively small membership. Out of about 150,000 producers in the country it could claim only 2000 as members. When the association made representations Parliament was not prepared to act when it was not aware of the wishes of the rest of the producers. Federation Formed In December, 1933, the New Zealand Poultry Runs Registration Art was passed; this was the great organising measure long desired. The federation was then formed and had been working hard ever since. but owing to the complicated nature of the problems it had to face and tho vast amount of organising w-ork to be done, results were slow in appeal - ing, and even now too much should not be expected of the board for some time. A serious problem nowconfronting the board was the storim.: of chilled eggs by certain producers until the market price had risen, and then putting them on the market as fresh eggs. The board was trying to obtain legislation to prevent this hoarding by speculators. The board was also trying to organise the exporting of eggs to Great Britain. Eggs must be exported in the flush season to maintain the local price. The Canterbury Egg Export Committee had done valuable work in this connexion. By their effort?, the number of 48,000 dozen, exported i'i 1932, had risen to 145,000 dozen hi 1933. The board had undertaken the responsibility of providing for space on the ships and publicity in England.

Value of Export Business Mr Marshall deplored the practice of some producers in not supplying their surplus eggs to the export committee for export. They gained the benefit of the maintenance of the local price, but did nothing to help the committee. They had an unfair advantage and should help to carry any possible loss on exported eggs owing to a weak market in Great Britain. The problem of future restriction of imports of eggs into Great Britain because of the growth of the industry there should not worry New Zealand producers for a long time. Australia exported to Great Britain last year 21,000,000 dozen eggs; a very large increase on the previous year. This increase was secured by eilicient organisation. This showed what New Zealand could do when the organisation of the industry was perfected. Another serious problem was the probable adoption by Great Britain of a pro rata restriction for every Dominion in the Empire. In the board's opinion, this would be unfair to New Zealand, because of the unstable state of the industry at present. A tre-

mendous amount of organisation was necessary, and for the board to succeed in its objects, the co-operation of the producers themselves was absolutely essential. The federation had now 16,000 members and was steadily growing. Sale of Bad Eggs In reply to a question, Mr Marshall said that there was no course of action a purchaser of eggs that proved to be unfit for consumption could take but to complain to the retailer. The board hoped to improve and control the quality of eggs sold locally. It was decided that the meeting recommend to the board that compulsory testing and grading of eggs for sale on local markets be instituted as soon as possible, and that voluntary stamping of eggs with the federation's "Dominion Mark" stamp be allowed to producers until the necessary legislation making this compulsory had been passed. Mr C. Cussen, the Government Poultry Instructor for the South Island, said that the very greatly increased consumption of eggs in Canada after 1920 was due to the very efficient organising of the ' industry during that year. Mr Cussens gave a short educational lecture to the meeting on the culling of birds. At the conclusion of the meeting a vote of thanks to the two speakers was carried unanimously.