EGG MARKETING

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23964, 3 June 1943, Page 4

EGG MARKETING

* PRODUCERS’ SALES TO CONSUMERS POINTS OF MISUNDERSTANDING CLARIFIED An explanation of requirements governing sales of eggs by producers direct to consumers was given by the Christchurch manager of the Internal Marketing Division (Mr J. A. Manton) yesterday. This section of the regulations. about which an inquiry has been made by a Waipara correspondent to “The Press,’’ has apparently been the cause of some misunderstanding. “A farmer or producer can sell eggs to any number of purchasers (requiring eggs for direct consumption and not for resale), provided that sales are made and delivery taken on the farm,” said Mr Manton. “but the farmer cannot sell more than one dozen eggs to any one consumer or purchaser (for direct consumption) on any one day. He is also required to keep a record of the sales and of the consumers’ names and addresses." “The farmer or producer selling direct to a consumer in these circumstances,” Mr Manton replied to a question, “can charge up to the maximum retail price allowed for the type of eggs sold under the current price order covering his district.’’ Asked if under this arrangement the country consumer was not better placed than the town consumer, Mr Manton said that the intention of the regulations in allowing such sales vas to meet in a reasonable way the position of a man able to purchase conveniently from a producer and at the same time to avoid having to travel some distance or go to some inconvenience to purchase from a regular retailer. Some doubt has also been expressed about the definition of the term consumer under this regulation. Questioned about this. Mr Manton said that the regulations which had allowed the concession of such purchases from a producer, similarly intended “consumer" to mean a consumer purchasing on behalf of his family, and did not intend that seuarnte members of a consumer’s family should be entitled to make purchases. Shipment of Banrnrs A *hmmrnl of bananas arrived in Chri'tclv'rch yesterday for distribution by the Internal Marketing Division to the retail trade.