198 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — Sept., 1922. 



An Investigation into the Egg Export Trade. 



Last season there were exported from the Union to London 43,636 

 cases of eggs from Capetown and 11,514 cases from Durban, and serious 

 complaints arose regarding the condition of certain of the Durhan 

 consignments. The contents of some, it was stated, were badly broken 

 owing to the cases being too big, many eggs were old, numbers 

 contained spots and blacks, the size was variable, and topping had 

 been resorted to. The Minister of Agriculture aDpointed a Committee 

 to inquire into the matter, and their report* has recently been 

 published. It deals largely with the conditions prevailing at the two 

 ports in connection with the inspection of the eggs prior to export, and 

 of the difficulties which had to be contended with last season, especially 

 at Durban, when large quantities came forward for inspection. That 

 there was an inadequacy of facilities for handling the trade as satis- 

 factorily as needed is clear, but that some exporters had not mastered 

 the essentials of an enduring trade is also apparent from the following 

 statement of the Committee, viz. : *' ... the exporter seems 

 unable at times to perceive that his real and abiding interest does not 

 lie in the possibility of an immediate gain despite inferior export, but 

 in the stable position he can secure in the market oversea, and this is 

 only to be acquired if he accustoms himself to put np consignments 

 for export conforming in all respects to the standards required. If 

 his view of his own interests inclines him to regard the position 

 differently, he must be constrained to think otherwise in the interest 

 of his country, and he will have to realize that this particular trade 

 will be closed to him unless his outlook improves." 



The Committee has made several recommendations for the future 

 control of the eg^ export trade, the main essential being the competent 

 and effective grading of the eggs, not only at the hands of the Govern- 

 ment inspectors, but also by the exporters themselves before the 

 consignments are packed. Grading is all important. For this purpose 

 it is proposed that at every exporter's warehouse there should be 

 employed at. least one person competent to grade eggs, and that the 

 premises be subiect to Government inspection. This would materially 

 assist in the final examination of the eggs by the Government 

 inspectors prior to exnort. The appointment of a chief poultry officer, 

 together with a qualified poultryman to be resident, one at Durban 

 and one at Capetown, is recommended, and the regulations were 

 revised by the Committee according to what it considered would best 

 serve the interests of the industry. Among other thioQ-s this revision 

 precluded the export of eggs below the weight of If oz. (but the 

 Committee was not unanimous on this point); increased the number 

 of cases to be examined by the inspector to 10 Der cent. : provided for 

 a levy of Is. per case exported : and nermitted the repackincr of reiected 

 consignments subject to certain conditions. It may be inentioupd that 

 new regulations Governing thp export of eggs have now been published 

 (Governnipnt Notice No. 1202, 1922) and have effect from the 1st 

 August, 1922. They bear the imprint of the Committee's investiga- 

 tions in several respects; the small egg, however, is not debarred from 

 export. 



The economic side of tbp subject was also referred to, particularly 

 in the light of the Committee's anticipation that oversea prices for 



*" Report of an E^s Export Enquiry." [U.G. No. 23, 1922.] Obtainable from the 

 Government Printer. Price Is. 9d. 



