EXPORT SUBSIDY ON EGGS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1928, Page 1

EXPORT SUBSIDY ON EGGS

ißy I’elegranh- Per Press Association. AVELLINGTON, August 6. The Alinister of Agriculture made the following announcement to-night: Pursuing their established policy of assisting the small ,farmer, ■' the Government have decided to give a guarantee on a basis of £3 os gross per case of 30 dozen eggs on the London market. In announcing the decision, Air Hawken said: “For some time past, there have been warnings that the poultry keeping industry was reaching a stage at which there would have been an over-supply ol eggs on the New Zealand market, and it has been evident that unless the poultry keeper could find other markets, the industry would very shortly languish and fall back to a point at which local market requirements would be the limit ot production. 1 may say that this industry is of much more value than is generally supposed, the annual production being valued at £3,000,000. It is essentially one to he carried on by small holders, who, of all the producers in a country like New Zealand, should Ve helped, and as its future success undoubtedly depends on tho volume of export that can he attained, and on an assurance of a regular demand overseas tbe Government have decided on the guarantee as the most practical kind of assistance that they could give. Conditions have been drawn up which will have to lie observed by the producers desiring to avail themselves of the guarantee. Those conditions will contain provisions ensuring that only eggs of the host quality and ol standarc size will lie exported, and all care will he taken by Government officers to see that the conditions are adhered to, so that every opportunity will be giien for an export business to establish itself on a basis which will gain the confidence of buyers overseas. ’I here | is no reason at all why the New Zealand poultry keeper should not be able l to compete on the London market with [ those of other countries at the price that lias been realised there for eggs offered at a period when New Zealand e— r K would reach the market, and the Government hope that hllip \\ ll( 1 the guarantee will impart *-o the industiv will give tho poultry-keeper in the Dominion confidence to extend Ins operations and increase the production of eggs and poultry to proportions which have not hitherto existed.