THE FARM.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 15 May 1914, Page 7

THE FARM.

' POULTRY ON THE FARM,

A LITTLE ABOUT EGG-CIRCLES

What is an egg-circle ? Well, it is just a sort of co-operative company formed by the producers of eggs in any neighbourhood for the purpose of marketing their products as profitably as possible. To quote from the New Zealand Poultry Journal of 1910, when the egg-circle movement first began :—"Nothing could be simpler or so effective in our purpose as the egg-circle movement. It originated in Denmark and has been largely supported in Australia.

It avoids the raising of capital, covers the smallest producer, ensures prompt cash returns, enforces rules that improve the quality of our goods, and gives the united force so desirable to govern the market. The great advantage of the movement is that it meets with public favour. Every man. must market his eggs in suitable carriers, they must be -gathered daily, stamped, cleaned, and graded. Already where the movement exists the public have begun to recognise the superior" quality of the circle's products, and it is only a matter of time when circle eggs will gain the same distinction as factory butter, when compared with dairy butter. The latter is often times equal in quality to the former, but it lack's the seal, the trade tnark, the public appreciation given to factory butter. It is not the intention of the circle movement to in any way fix high market rates for eggs, but to make the prices more uniform. It aims to avoid the exorbitac* price of 3/- a dozen just as it will resent eggs being sold as low as Bd. per doz. It aims at a uniform price that will encourage the public to buy and continue to use eggs."

The plan adopted to secure all these advantages is as follows :— Each member on joining an egg*-circle pays a small sum — the Wairarapa Circle entrance fee was 10/-, which included the price of an egg-stamp— and an annual subscription of 5/(again quoting the W.E.C) to cover expenses. As against this small outlay the W.E.0., which was the first formed, claims that it obtained for its members between 2d. and 3d. a dozen more for their eggs than they would have received if the eggs had been marketed in the ordinary hap-hazard way. The method employed is that each member of the circle, has "to stamp the eggs, and forward them to the circle's agent, who then disposes of them in the most profitable markets, the actual expenses only being deducted from the price obtained. Cash returns are promptly made. There is no "take out" system as with ordinary grocer sales. The stamped eggs are in great favour—just as a brand o? butter is in favour. The public know thej are getting a guaranteed article, and ii the guarantee is recognised as worthy of confidence naturally it ie sought after, and people are willing to pay a trifle more for the guarantee. It pays to do so, too. What article of commerce is more capable ol deception than an innocent-looking 'nice brown egg ? To the casual buyer all the eggs look alike, yet every housewife knows 'that the interior contents may vary vastly. Some contain, as they should, a rich, yellow yolk, a nd clear "white" ; others, a mass of abominable, filthy corruption, quite sufficient to cause a shiver of disgust whenever eggs an mentioned as a breakfast dainty I