EXPORT OF EGGS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1839, 27 August 1913, Page 10

EXPORT OF EGGS.

ii NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITY. In tho early part of the year, acting upon the representations of poultrykeepers, tho Department of Agriculture entered into negotiations with tho Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd., with tho object of securing cool storage space for shipments of eggs from New Zealand to Vancouver. As a result of these overtures tho shipping company agreed to meet tho request, and reserved a small apartment fitted up : specially for tho conveyance of eggs linder the most approved conditions. Poultry-keepers wore advised of this arrangement, but so far the inquiries for shipping spaco arei not anything like sufficient to fill Uie special spaco reserved by tho company. In a letter to tho Department relating to this question, tho stcamor authorities state that, so far they liavo not received many definite inquiries for spaco. Tho only real inquiry Js from Christ-church; covoring proposed shipments from -August to November of a total of two hundred and three cases all told; . T'heso lots are so very small, and so very ,short of the number of cases required to fill ono of tho chambers, that, unless tlioy can bo supplemented by considerable shipments from other points, tho company say they will be unable to accommodate them. Tho smallest space that can bo reserved would tako about 270 to 300 cases to fill.- -

A good deal has been hoard lately of the (importance of the poultry-keeping business arid the need for going abroad in'search, of markets to absorb tho surplus eggs-jvhich are being produced, and without : which there is a grave danger of one of the most important .of the minor brajielios of industry being permanently checked in its development. . lit order, to ascertain if possible the reasons''why poultry-men have not been eager- to secure tlio space for shipments to Vancouver now that tho opportunity for doing so is presented, a Dominion reporter has been making some inquiries amongst men closely identified with poaltry : raising. : From information gleaned fropi various sources, it would appear that although largo quantities of eggs are being produced over and above local requirements at certain times of the yoar, there is a distinct weakness in tho marketing system in vogue. In spito of'tho existence of quite a number of egg-circles, which were formed for the express purpose of collective and effective marketing throughout tho country, there yet remains a great deal to bo dono in perfecting tho schemo before anything liko true co-operation of marketing prevails. Referring''particularly to export shipments, great disappointment was oxpressed by thoso spoken ttf, because of tho apathy shown in the collection of a sufficient number of cases to make up consignments for hut it is hoped that tlio neglect will bo remedied at once.

The number of eggs required to' fill' the spaco reserved each month would bo about seven hundred and fifty-dozen. In the flush of the season there should be no troublo in collecting tho required quota, but as one gentleman put -it, they must all he ,eggs of guaranteed quality—not just eggs of a dotfbtful naturo. It is imperative, also, that every egg bo tested linder the' supervision of a qualified man, for preference one appointed by the Government; otherwise a few bad samples might go forward .which would give a had impression oil the market.' There does not seem much prospect of any considerable number of eggs being exportel_ from Auckland this year. Anticipating . a large influx of visitors at Exhibition, timo, a great many eggs .will bo pre-' served,'ill the hope that high prices will be ruling. Therefore, it behoves thoso interested in export shiplnents in other provinces, to get into touch with tlie producers immediately,, and mako the necessary effort to exploit outside markets now that a favourable opportunity is offering.