EGGS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4852, 13 July 1925, Page 3

EGGS.

preparation for export. ENGLISH MARKET UNLIMITED. Active preparations for the export of large quantities of eggs during the coming spring are now being made, as it Is considered that this is the only method by which the high price of food can be counteracted, while ft will mean a remunerative return to the producers during the flush of the season.' High prices during the autumn arc often supposed to be so advantageous to the producers, but are really of not much use to them, for production is then so low that it does not make much difference whether producers obtain 2s or 3s pet dozen for their output. They also recognise that the prevalence of higher rates has a most disastrous effect in restricting consumption. What the farmer wants is a better price from August .to November, the short period when the bulk of the eggs are being produced and sold at unremuuerative prices. Heavy export trade during those months should have the desired effect, and if it makes production sufficiently profitable to encourage larger flocks being kept a corresponding l increase in production during the autumn will naturally result in lower prices to the consumer at that time by thus bringing about a more regular range of prices, higher in spring through heavy export taking up the surplus and lower in the autumn and winter through increased production. The producers hope to cultivate a profitable industry at no extra average expense to the consumer. ' The Government is symypatlietic towards the building up of another primary industry, and is assisting export by compulsory grading of all eggs packed in order to conserve the good name- of the New Zealand product. For all practical purposes the English market is unlimited. During the last year eggs were imported into Britain to the value of £15,500,000, About one-third of these came frpfm Denmark, and about a quarter from Ireland. Holland and other Northern Hemisphere countries supplied nearly all the rest. Australia and New Zealand are in the unique position of not competing with these count! les, as our expert takes place at the vciy time when production is curtailed in the north and prices are correspondingly high. Mr J. B. Merrett, of Christchurch, who went to England to open up . the market for New Zealand egas in London, found out it was far easier to sell a large quantity than a small quantity, as most of the buyers , were in such a large way that he could hardly get a hearing when offering only a few thousand cases. Accordingly, he has completed arrangements for securing an output of half a million dozen eggs from New South Wales, as well as about a quarter of a million dozen from Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland, and with these quantities in his hanefe he will be bettei able to talk business with the largest buyers in London. In Australia the Government is giving the same assistance as here, giving the service of tjiieir experts free. New Zealand eggs topped the market for all imported eggs in London last December, and it is intended to keep up their reputation for size and quality.