GRADING OF EGGS.

Wairarapa Age, 4 March 1927, Page 7

GRADING OF EGGS.

AMERICAN METHODS URGED. FOR NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRY. AUCKLAND, March 3. A remit from th® Wellington District Poultry Farmers’ Association, that the Government be urged to legislate in the direction of adopting grading laws for eggs similar to those in force in the United States and Canada, was the subject of considerable discussion at this morning’s sitting of the New Zealand Poultry Associations’ Conference. In proposing that the remit be adopted, Mr. C. Gibson Young read extracts from the regulations in force in the United States and Canada which definitely set out the qualities of the various grades. Mr. H. W. Beck saicl that unfortunately, even in cases where eggs were graded, the practise was nullified because many grocers selected large eggs from second grade lots and mixed them with the first grade article. The president (Mr. T. Bruce) said the point Mr. Beck had made was the crux of the whole question. It was useless for eggs to be graded if the grocer could mix them as he liked. The suggested regulations would probably overcome the difficulty. In his opinion grading regulations would be in the best interests of the industry. Mr. F. Brown, Chief Poultry Instructor, suggested that graded eggs should be exhibited in the same way as apples so that the public might see the difference in the grades.

Mr. E. C. Jarrett advocated private grading. Of 12,510 dozen eggs sent to him for export last year only 3529 dozen were accepted. Ono agent who had been particularly careful in his selection, however, had 1898 dozen out of 2590 doaen accepted.

Mr. C. Cousins said that he thought the difference in price between first grajlo and the second grade egg was tbo little.

After further discussion the matter was referred to the executive committee.—(P.A.).