POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2741, 8 April 1916, Page 15

POULTRY INDUSTRY

A PROSPEROUS CIRCLE

CANTERBURY'S CENTRALISA-

TION OF EGGS

(By Ohanteclkr.) 1 At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Egg Circle, held this week, there was of one hundred members. Xhe meeting was most enthusiastic, jur. J. B. Alerrett, secretary, read the following report: it is my pleasure to report a moat successful and oncourn'ini; year, notwithstanding the high price" of lceds, the cessation ox passenger shipping traffic, and the departure of 30,000 of our young men, occasioned by the war. The demand for eggs has been most remarkable, and at the present time, though they aro 3s. per dozen, wo uro unable to supply eggs sufficient for tho demand. Tiie OSS circle movement in New Zealand, and of which we form a part, was started about Bis years ago. The growth has been slow, but sure. The system demands tho centralisation of supplies, stamping, "radmg, and marketing of a fresh, guaranteed fu.U-weiglit article. After so many years of tho old system of marketing it'was natural the new system would not take on until the advantages were recognised. 1 lie public now demand their eggs markoted in this way, alid any poultryman ii j * not adflpt the e 3'stem is compelled to take lesser prices for his products. Our circle does not exist lor the purpose of forming a trust on tho generally accepted meaning of the term, though that word now is' beginning to stand for a legitimate concentration of producers for the equitable disposal of their goods. •i 3 lol \ this P lll 'Pose the-circle largely It seeks to give a gnaranteed;aud lUll-viuUQ article m return ior an ccjuitablo price. There is no otlier combination to regulate prices except producers themselves.

The grocers naturally will not pfess the price, as instanced last week,, when they advertised -for guaranteed stamped eggs at Is. 7d., while our circlo wore unablo to supply thousands of dozens at ls.-lOd. Failing to gain supplies, the.v are forced tnis weok to fall into line with the circle and in fact admit that to purchase eggs from the circlo places them all on! the same footing, and .enables them to - retail at the same price. :The price of eggs must always be governed "by tHe' law of supply and doisand,-and now tlie siippljes of producers "' are centralised this'-can bo done. Under'the old system dealers purchased heavily in 'a-cheap marlcet; ana sold'on the rising price.- Now, as the demand increases, members get the immediate increase of price, while the element of dealing is cut' out. It' ia practical' co-opera-tion that assures the producer the highest price obtainable between himself and the consumer. We are pleased to Tecord a great increase in our membership, and supplies. Our membership is now 155, and is growing rapidly. Last year our egg supply totalled 76,139 dozens, with an average of Is. 3d. a dozen for first grades," while -for the first quarter of this year we have sold 35,142 dozens, or nearly half the'supply of tho past twelve months. This phenomenal growth is due to the growing recognition of the circlo as a governing factor, and t'h6 conflicting element against the circle's interest, as evidenced by private trading. There are still many producers who should coihe in and help ns by the centralisation of supplies. Sentiment for old customers, dislike for the work of griding and stamping, and a knowledge that, they can folow closely to our prices are the main causes of their holding out. They are'dependent iipon us, as the Empire is dependent upon those who enlist. Certainly shirkers enjoy tho benefits of the fighter, but if. all held out because-.tho other)fellow would not go,'we would not save the Empire. It is so with us. For years we have organised, .improved the. grade of our goods, created tho demand, and regulated prices, all of which the outsider enjoys at our expense. It is every member's duty to recruit and get - . producers -.. into the circle. There is room for them. We want their eggs to fill our large orders and maintain connection i witK trade for Canterbury. To' our members I would nrgo "better quality and more of it." I hope yet to see a special trade for strictly "new laids." . Few people know. tlie value of a new-laid egg. ■ It should not be more than three days old. -At present there is too long a period from the time" an egg is laid, till it reaches the breakfast table. It deteriorates daily , alid a prejudice arises against it in place of favour and an nrgent demand. This step will be our next "feature of advancement, and at an eai'ly date I hope \to introduce the way in which it can J>e done.

To produce good eggs that please the public feed good wholesome-foods, market quickly, grade honestly and help the circle in its ever widening influence to capture trade. During the coming year, we hope to take up more educational work. The science of egg-production is in its infancy and there is' mucli for us to learn. The elements of the egg and the foods that produce these elements deserve to be better understood. Marketing of our products can .be much improved upon and the centralisation- c-f supplies is further to be desired. We congratulate the New Zealand Poultry Association on the progress it has made in persuading the Government to better the conditions of the poultrymen.

Tlic stampinfr of foreign eggs imported into New- Zealand, the. appointment of two additional instructors, the removal of ■duty off certain British-made poultry goods, the liclp in publishing Tecorils aro signs of advancement secured by llio associaton. The appointment' of Mr. C. .T. Cussen as an'instructor in Cantbrbury is a Rrent help to us. He is at your services and l will help you in your problems. The war lias meant much distress to French and Belgian poultry-keepers,- and it speaks ivell for English poultrymou that over .£6OOO lias been gathered to help them, in addition to thousands of birds sent to France to restock tho farms in Flanders. Now that feeds are down and prices for egRS are good, I liopo tho coming year, wo shall be able to do more to help the distress occasioned by the war. Many n poultrym'an has found it hard to "carry on." He has done it at much sacrifice, and owing to the high price of feeds, has worked long hours for small returns. Things look brighter now, and the year before us holds great promise. 1 thank the members for their hearty support and courtesy accorded mo' during tho year. Tho growth of our circle is proof that a man's labour is sure to gain its reward. I shall continue to guard your, interests, and the increased demand for your eggs is proof that your efforts of centralisation are being -rewarded. The Conference. The conference to be held at Easter promises good. There are qnito a.number of poultrymen in camp, and it *is to be hoped the executive will make an effort to entertain them'at the dinner'on the Saturday evening. The attendance of these loyal poultrymen will "add additional interest to the function. ' The remit paper for the conference ' contains some valuable suggestions, and much good, should result from tho valuable subjects' to be discufsed. There also promises to be a large attendance of visitors." '