EXPORT OF EGGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 92, 15 October 1940, Page 11

EXPORT OF EGGS

WHAT IS THE POSITION?

The New Zealand Poultry Producer^ Association, seeking to know the position of the egg export trade, has been informed by the Minister for .Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) that inquiries were made as to the possibility of exporting New Zealand eggs to Great Britain, among other foodstuffs, but definite arrangements for export have been held up owing, to the shipping difficulty. Quite recently and after considerable delay negotiations were advanced to the point where space was made available for approximately 1500 crates and then, after packing had commenced, the accommodation was of necessity reduced to 1100 crates. With this shipment away no further available space seems to be in sight. Negotiations were entered into for the shipment of egg pulp to England, but it is apparently eggs in shell that the English authorities desire (shipment being possible) and "while we have been unsuccessful in finalising as to pulp shipments, which in any case would mean that the eggs must be pulped and forwarded at a cost lower than production, I am hopeful that the Dominion will have ready . a small quantity of pulp for transport should the Home Government desire."

In ' original negotiations with- the Home Government the initial shipment was arranged with knowledge that the export figure offered wasjsy no means sufficient to compensate for cost of production, but the Minister noted that the association had readily subscribed to the principle of "equalising" any loss that may be incurred. He noted that if shipping space could have, been made available New Zealand could have shipped 20,000" crates of eggs, but officers of the Department of Agriculture and Internal Marketing Division were of opinion that such a suggested quantity would have been far in excess of possibilities. In endeavouring to arrange for the original 1500 crates, as mentioned above, considerable difficulties were experienced.