THE EGG TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1926, Page 1

THE EGG TRADE

COXTiH.iL ASK l.l* FOB

BY TEIiHtSHAr.It —PRESS ASSN., COI'VUIGHI. WFLLiIXGTON, Feb. -■ Reg.islratiun of poultry farmers having more than fitly birds. am! n measure of the control of <-gg exportations, nntl of tlm pulp trade wore requests made to the .Minister of Agriculture (Mr Ifawken) this morning h,v a deputation from the New Zealand Poultry Association, which asked lor the introduction of a Bill designed for the

purpose. _ . The President of the Association (Air Thomas Bruce) said the producers were .suffering through the absence of control ami felt that they could not continue without it.

The Association was prepared to supply all. the pulp demands for New Zealand, hut had to face the competition of the importing agents, which affected them very considerably. It was proposed to charge a registi ation foe of -2s Od per head. They asked for consideration of their draft kill, ami for legislation during the coming session. One section of llio measure contrilled egg exportation, and another the egg pulp trade. The latter was desired to enable the keepers to work in conjunction with the linkers, who supported their proposals. The A! mister said that he would go into the matter as soon as po.ssfl.de and give a reply. He assured the deputation of his sympathy, hut .suggested that possibly the production co-t was a more important question than control. The Government wished to encourage the smaller industries attached to agricultural pursuits. He stressed the value of the egg trade in Xew Zealand, and said lie thought that difficulty would he experienced with a registration system, because of the enormous number that would be subvert to control. The tax would he very difficult to collect.

Air Bruce said he thought that the tax collection, through the Post Office would be a simple matter. As the deputation was about to withdraw, he referred to the amount of speculation in eggs by agents, and said that they wanted to cut the agents out.