THE EGG MARKET.

Shannon News, 6 April 1923, Page 3

THE EGG MARKET.

WELLINGTON CONDITIONS. Last night’s Post contained the following reference to the egg market: Fresh'eggs, which have been selling retail at 3/ per dozen, are down to 2/8 to-day in some shops, and 2/3 to 2/6 in others. Inquiries made by the Post into the price of eggs went to show that the grocer made; hut a very small profit on the business, viz., 2d per dozen, and he had to carry all risks of “had ones,” breakages, and in many cases give credit besides. In Christchurch the retail price yesterday was 1/8 to 1/10—a very wide margin as compared with the Wellington price. “Wc* thought,” said a grocer ol long standing in Wellington, “that the egg circle idea was going to put fllie trade on a satisfactory basis, giving a fair return to the producer, a reasonable profit to the retailer, and an egg at a price that the consumer could pay so as to ensure a steady distribution and regular turnover. Instead, the market is being manipulated. It. is starved one day to force prices up, and depressed another by over-supply brought about by people ‘cutting out’ eggs when the price becomes impossible for them.” Then thie extraordinary statement was made that eggs from South Canterbury could he landed and sold in Wellington cheaper and fresher than eggs from the Manawatu and- Wairarapa and even Hutt Valley; cheaper by 8d to lOd per dozen. There were rail charges in Canterbury and boat freights from the South Island, plus Wellington wharfage charges, to be met on these eggs, while those from the Manawatu and Wairarapa lines: bad but to be carried by rail, anything from 20 to 100 miles, and collected at the Wellington goods station.

A merchant of wide experience, when this anomaly was pointed out, agreed that it must be difficult for the public mind to grasp; but the fact was that eggs from Christchurch could be delivered in Wellington quicker, and therefore fresher than those coming into the city by rail, while the combined rail and boat charges on them need not be very much more than (he rail and handling 'charges on tlie eggs produced nearer the city. As for the profit of 2d per dozen made

ay the retailer, that was certainly

small considering the risks of the trade; but it was due to culling among grocers. They could charge more for the eggs if they thought they could gel it. Some did. The producer sold his eggs at a price to the grocer. It was tlie latter who fixed the retail price.

“But,” is was asked, “had not the recent Lenten demand something to do with the 3/ per dozen at which eggs have been selling?”

“Not much; not nearly so much as you may think,” was the reply “Eggs from the South cause a glut in this market at times, meeting an extra supply sent in from our Manawatu, Wairai apa and nearer districts. As a matter of fad lots of eggs came up from the South on consignment, sent up from the Southern markets to letch what they may in this. Some of these consignments are sent even as far as Auckland when Wellington is fully or over-supplied.” “Does pulping egs for bakers when the market for'the shelled article is thought too low by the producer have any influence on the price for new laid?” was another question. “Eggs are pulped when they are plentiful, and put into the freezing store, and are bought in that form by bakers only when they are cheap. Scarcity of fresh eggs is not artificially effected in that way,” was the answer. It was predicted by the merchant that the retail price of eggs should be round about 2/8 for this month, and afterwards the price should rise, because the liens wmuld' be naturally reducing their output for a couple of months onward. With the coming of spring eggs would again be more,, plentiful. , *V /