EGGS FROM CANADA.

Shannon News, 3 May 1929, Page 4

EGGS FROM CANADA.

LARGE- QUANTITY IMPORTED,

A firm of- Auckland merchants has imported a consignment of 15,000 dozen Canadian eggs, which arrived by the Aorangi this week. The order, which fr-as placed in Vancouver, is largely an experiment, and it is not likely that any further consignments will be ordered this season. The firm responsible is confident of a good demand for the eggs, which are stated to be of excellent' quality. These eggs are not passing through the Auckland City Markets. Auckland producers are apprehensive as to the effect of the importations on the market, as they consider the quantities at present coming to hand from loefil sources are sufficient. The distribution of the Canadian eggs will not necessarily be confined to Auckland, and portions of the consignment may be sold in the (South. Discussing the matter after a meeting of the executive of tlio Auckland Association, Air. R. Higginbotham, vice-president, said that , apart from other considerations, New Zealand poultrymen considered there should be stricter inspection of Imported eggs to ensure that they were all branded as such. Accordingly, it has been decided to' communicate with the • Ministers of Customs. Health and Agriculture, asking that the Aorangi’s consignment bo inspected with a view to ensuring that all the eggs were branded. Speaking on the broader issues, Mr. Higginbotham said the importation of eggs was nullifying the efforts of New Zealand poultrymen to. build up an export trade which would mean a very great deal to New Zealand from the points of view of keeping money Within tno country and providing more employment. Of his own experience, he could say that last year, when oh the point of spending £3OO in improvements and additions to his farin property, he had had to cancel irhe oialer on account of the price of eggs slumping 9d a dozen in eight days following the arrival of a consignment of Canadian eggs.

Poultrymen’s protests against importations, however, rested on something more than the mere fact of eggs being brought into New Zealand from other countries. Canada took advaiitage of New Zealand’s “off” season to export some of her surplus hero. That was made possible by the fact that Canadian eggs were produced in the world’s granary —where maize was even used for fuel; whereas in New Zealand producers were unfairly handicapped by the cost of fowl feed, for it .rose sympathetically with the price _of wheat, which had the benefit of tariff protection.

The outcome was that Canadian eggs, even under a duty of 20 per cent., could be sold in Now Zealand at 2s a dozen with profit to the consignee. It was indisputable that New Zealand poultrymen wore seriously handicapped in their competition with Canada as the indirect result of the protective tariff on wheat in this country, and so an industry struggling for recognition and a footing in the world’s'market, had. to continue against unequal competition.