Egg Export.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 October 1913, Page 4

Egg Export.

SHIPMENT TO CANADA. As the first shipment of eggs from Isow Zealand on a commercial basis will leave Auckland next week, and as the export question is of great interest, a representative of the Christchurch Star waited on Mr A. E. Kent (the honorary export secretary of the Christchurch Egg Farmers' Association) yesterday, who supplied a brief history of the movement. The enthusiasm shown by the promoters in. seeking outside markets is convincingly shown by the size of the chamber engaged, the methods of packing, and grading and the quality of the eggs chosen.

_ Mr Kent stated that his Association, which represents the leading ogg farmers of Canterbury, wrote to the Hon. T. Mackenzie when he was Minister of Agriculture and requested that ttho Government should assist the poultrymen of New Zealand by trying an experimental shipment of eggs io Vancouver and other markets. The Agricultural Department"" at once took the matter up, but before anything practical was done the Hon. TV. F. Massey came info power. A deputation represontinu the poultrynien of Now Zealand then waited upon the Premier (the Hon. W. I' 1 . Massey), who gave the deputation a very favourable reply. Within a very short space of time a trial shipment was got ready and both Vancouver and the London markets were tested. The result of these experiments was so satisfactory (hat Canterbury Qgg farmers determined to follow up the Government lead and a meeting of representatives from the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, the Canterbury Egg Circle and the Christchurch Egg Farmers' Association mot to make arrangements for a shipment to Vancouver. After much hard work in preliminary arrangements the whole projeei fell through owing to a technical flaw in the rules of the New Zealand rtility Pountry Club, the body which was to control the finalicial side of the venture.

The Christchurch Egg Farmers were determined, however, that (he time and money spent should not be fruitless and decided to test the Vancouver markefon their account. fn response to circulars the Association's members promised (iOOO dozen, to be spread over three shipments. This was considered satisfactory, and arrangements were then entered into with the shipping company. At this stage the venture received a check as it was found that the smallest chamber available was one thousand cubic feet which required ten thousand dozen eggs to fill it. The assistance of the Government was then sought, and an officer of the Agricultural Department made a special I'rip to Dunccfin to see'if a smaller chamber could be provided, but the I'ninn Company had such a demand for space that it could not reduce the size of its chamber, and, although late in the day, the Agricultural Department advised (lie Eg" , Farmers' Association to-make ithc shipment a colonial one, and try to fill the chambers in the s.s. Niagara leaving Auckland in October.

'1 he Association had to charter Ihe chamber and take the risk of tilling it, but the response from the other centres and the help given by the Canterbury Egg Circle and Mr John Studholme, of Coldstream, who had so generously contributed GOO dozen, was so satisfactory that Iho whole consignment is now complete. Air Kent pointed out that the establishment of an export trade would not only mean increased spending power in New Zealand, but it would have the eifeet of levelling prices: farmers would increase their flocks, and consequently new-laid eggs would be cheaper in the winter season.

The Otago, Wellington and the greater portion of the Canterbury shipment is being handled by the ~New Zealand Provision and Produce Company, which is leaving no stone unturned to make the venture a success. It is expected that next season the export trade will be carried out on a very large scale. '