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Egg-pulp Imports of egg-pulp from Australia have made it possible to meet all the requirements of the baking trade. Minimum quantities only have been manufactured in New Zealand so that the maximum quantity of eggs in shell can be released for consumer requirements. The following schedule shows the quantities of egg-pulp imported in previous years and the year under review : Dozens Equivalent. 1942-43 .. .. .. 2,722,020 194-3-44 .. .. .. 2,286,732 1944-45 .. .. .. 2,662,107 1945-46 .. .. .. 1,709,670 1946-47 .. .. .. 3,085,920 1947-48 .. .. .. 3,352,440 1948-49 .. .. .. 4,229,370 1949-50 .. .. .. 3,450,000 (estimated). Last year's report mentioned that steps were being taken to improve the quality of the New Zealand manufactured egg-pulp and that a quality standard for shell eggs would be established. Egg-pulp manufacturers have now undertaken to improve the conditions under which egg-pulp is manufacturered and it is hoped that this will bring about an immediate improvement in quality. Previously the Department owned all egg-pulp, purchasing from manufacturers at freezer door. Pulp manufacturers, however, will now own the pulp they manufacture, and in consideration of this and the expected improvement in quality, price increases have been approved by Government. With the co-operation of the Department of Agriculture a " standard for egg quality " campaign will shortly be launched. PRODUCE SECTION Potatoes Under the contract system which has operated over the war and post-war years, Government undertook the purchase and disposal of potatoes surplus to New Zealand requirements. It was the first occasion since the inception of the scheme on which it was necessary to implement arrangements to this end. Committees were set up in each district to assess the quantities of contract grade potatoes for which the Government were liable.- The committees consisted of one representative of the potato-growers, one representative of the merchants, one representative of the Department of Agriculture, one representative of the Department, and the official port Potato Grader at each shipping port. The fifteen committees made in all approximately twelve hundred inspections and the work was carried out expeditiously being completed by mid-November, 1948. The members of these committees worked long hours and their services were appreciated. It was also necessary to arrange transport to the growers' farms and assistance in this connection was given by the Army Department. Growers in general expressed their appreciation of the arrangements made and of the way in which the Government met its liability under the contracts. Including potatoes which had already been taken over under the North Island contracts which expired at the end of June, the total Government payments for potato contracts amounted to '£159,213. The heavy surplus of potatoes in the 1948 season was due to exceptional climatic conditions which provided record yields in all districts and not through increased plantings which were actually below those recommended by the Potato Advisory Committee.

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