THE FOREIGN "YOLK."

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2711, 4 March 1916, Page 13

THE FOREIGN "YOLK."

OVERSEA EGGS DISORGANISE THE ' MARKET. >

There is a stalwart old English song which says that "We scorn the foreign yoke." We do, very much so at the present time, in the , one sense, but in anotlief there has been exhibited a deal more toleration. The reference is to the eggs that are imported from overseas, and are disposed of here and elsewhere, in New Zealand, practically as "fresh 1 eggs, with a result that is only too apparent on occasions. The Government has become aware of the above facts, and in order to prevent eggs that are cold-stored in America and Asia and then 6ent out to New Zealand, it lias been dccreed that "Each' egg iii .every coflsignnjent shall be stamped on the shell- in indelible ink, and in bold sans serif capital letter of not less than six iioints faco measurement with tli© words 'imported from' followed by the name of the country in which the eggs were laid." An inquiry was made fnto the egg question .generally yesterday, when it was ascertained that the price of fresh (guaranteed) eggs was being "beared" by the flooding of the market by eggs from San Francisco and Asia. In ISe case of Wellington most of the foreign eggs have come from America, and one effect was to reduce tho price of the lccal product from 2s. 4d. per dozen (wholesale) to Is. lOd. These practices' have roused the local producers to action,-with tho result that the Government is offering them a measure of protection, by having the country of origin stamped on each egg shell. Those interested did not think that the new regulations would have much effect this season, owing ito the fact that the eggs would have to he stamped in the country of origin. The local merchants who import (or seii on consignment) such eggs could not very well do the stamping owing to the method of packing followed by American exporters. They are sent here in 30-dozen crates, packed in cardboard trays, subdivided into little squares, each of which contains an egg. These trays are bottomless, so that practically every egg would have to be handled separately if the eggs now en route to New Zealand Jiad to be stamped. Were" tho foreign eggs packed in wire-looped tra.vs as are the local product, the eggs could bo stamped fairly easily, as ench tray lilts out of the crate .separately. Asiatic eggs have been coming into New Zealand lately. The, last consignment was booked to Ohristehurcii and Dunedin, and they had such an effect on local eggs on tho southern markets that.a large quantity were shipped to Wellington, with tho result that the price here for local eggs declined ?d. per dozen, so that whichever way it goes, the local producer suffers. As far as the egg-grower in New Zealand is concerned, the now'regulations wore badly neetiod. not only to protect tho producer, but a? an efetive safeguard us fax its the uubiic is concerned. 1