CHINESE EGGS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2755, 26 April 1916, Page 3

CHINESE EGGS

NEW ZEALAND IMPORTATIONS. At yesterday's New Zealand Poultry Conference, Mr. J. flalcli, Canterbury, moved: "That the Government bo asked to thoroughly investigate the quality of liquid yolks now arriving in tlio Dominion from Asiatic countries, and urge that they be analysed under the provisions of the Puro Foods Act." He stated tliat the birds were practically scavengers, living in the gutters of Chinese streets. These eggs could not be fit for human food. They cost twopence per dozen in' China, and were imported hero in unshellcd form, and used by some bakers. Mr. J. B. Merrett, secretary of the New Zealand Poultry Association, said that it was a great pity that the New Zealand poultry farmer could not produce sufficient eggs for local consumption, so as to make importations impossible. Referring to the American egg, Mr. Merrett said that it was a splendid article, but the Chinese egg was 1 another matter. The water was evaporated, and the oggs reached New Zealand in that form in barrels of 10,000 yollcs. Within the next week or two 3,000,000 Chinese eggs would be landed in New Zealand. That showed clearly that New Zealand Tvas -.unable to'produce sufficient eggs for its own consumption. The people who had placed orders for Chinese eggs ttould gladly have obtained New Zealand eggs, but they were under the impression that there was going to bo a great shortage in this country. The cost to the baker of these Chinese eggs was Is. 2d. per dozen, while he (Mr. Merrett) -was able to offer country eggs to bakers at Is.'per dozen. The remedy for importation was in poultry raisers', hands. They should produce more eggs, then there would be no reason to import. r The motion was finally adoptedl