The Chronicle PUBLISH DAILY. LEVIN. THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1915. FRESH EGGS AND OTHERS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 June 1915, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISH DAILY. LEVIN. THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1915. FRESH EGGS AND OTHERS.

Poultrykeepere <ire a class, of smail tanners ivlio have been hit hardest by the market fluctuations and business abnormalities occasioned by the war. Wheat, Tiarley, onts_ and maize, brar. pollard and even meatmeal, have been raised from 40 to 'JO per cent, in price since the ■war began, but the prices ol eggs have been retained at normal level Some remedial measures were promised to a deputation of .pouJtryfar mere that interviewed the Hon Mr Alafisey nearly two months ago, but nothing to better matters has Leen done, although ample power to give effect to a remedy could have been obtained by the simple process of Issuing an Oixler-iu-Council. Tlio pouiltryfarmers it* between "the upper and the nether grindstone ot high prices for the agriculturist and lo*v prices for the consumer of eggs. To the obvious answer that "the law ot .supply and demand" must operate it ik fair to reiply that there Iβ no sucU operations as regards poultry farmers, products. The importation of preserved or chilled eggs from America is a fair matter of business, but the practice of selling these as i\ew Zealand new laid eggs is dishonest. Yet it is .asserted that this is being done. If any section of the public is prepared to pay high prices for genuine new-laid eggs, that section of the puolic should 'be guaranteed against imposition. A

promise was made by the Prenier that he would give effect, if practicable, to a suggestion that all imported eggs should, be branded as such in their country of origin. To Tho Chronicle's mind this provision would leave loopholes tor evasion that would be availed of by dishonest exporters and certain retailers; it would bo an easy matter to brand only a proportion of tlu< eggs in each shipment and depend upon getting the balance passed when the necessarily perfunctory inspections of bho import shipments were made by tho Customs officials. The best means of I safeguarding New Zealand against impositions of the kind we refer to would bo to insist upon all imported eggs being marked in an unmistakable manner by the Customs officials. This could be done simply and effectively by immersing them in a bath of diluted cochineal, and the comparatively small cost of handling and repacking, plus the cost of the bath, could be made a charge againsl the consignees. In this way the public would be afforded a guarantee that fho imported eggs would not be bold at fresh-egg values; and, more important to this district, the producers of the real article would tho best purchasers a fair and remunerative price for real winter egge.

OUHSELVJUS. .

An appreciation of The Chronicle is to hand from London, and ive reprint t ivith siniula'ted .blushes:—".Royal Colonial Institute, Northumberland Avenue, London, W.C., 6tli May, 1915. The Editor, Horowhenua Daily Chronicle, Levin, Wellington, New Zealand. .Dear Sir,—l beg to thank you for a number of copies of the Horowlienua Daily Chronicle that you have been good enough to send, to the Royal Colonial

Institute, and to express the hope that you may bo able to continue to supply , us with a complimentary copy of your ! valued newspaper. Over nine hundred ! newspapers mid magazines are received at tlio Royal Colonial Institute .from ! different porta of the British Empire. ' After being kept oh file lor a number j of months, these periodicals are for- I warded to the British Museum where they are preserved for permanent reference.—Your faithfully, Evans L'ewin. Librarian."