" The dealers in attendance at these meetings were not of one mind upon the 

 question of ' quality payment ' as a satisfactory solution of the difficulty. Opposition 

 was offered on the ground that unless the practice of quality payment were made 

 universal it would not be practicable, for the reason that the few who adopted it 

 could not compete successfully with those buying on a case-count basis. On this 

 point F. G. Urner, of New York, editor of the Netv York Produce Review, speaking 

 recently at a meeting of the Southern Carlot Shippers' Association, said : 



" ' That only when eggs are paid for at different prices, according to their real 

 value, can there be any effective inducement for producers to market their eggs 

 when fresh or to take proper care of them. ... A good many packers say that 

 the proposition of quality payment is all right in theory, but that it cannot be put 

 in practice in any section unless done by all ; that a packer cannot successfully 

 institute quality payment so long as his competitors continue to buy case-count at 

 an average and uniform price. I cannot believe that this is so if the candling is 

 properly done and if so much difference is made in the paying price as the real 

 value of the eggs justifies. When different packers are competing for goods from 

 the same source of supply, it would seem inevitable that those who paid the full 

 value for new-laid quality would attract such, as compared with those who paid an 

 average price for good and poor together.' 



"The stand was also taken by certain dealers that it would be difficult for 

 country storekeepers to adopt ' quality payment ' for the reason that farmers would 

 take objection if any reduction in price were made on account of the presence of 

 bad eggs. In this way the country merchant, thinking that he would possibly 

 lose the patronage of some farmers, would therefore object to the system. It was 

 thought that if some means were adopted by which farmers could be shown the 

 exact quality of their eggs as they were marketed, this prejudice against the system 

 would be easily overcome. 



" It was also argued that, unless a simple and rapid system of candling were 

 devised, it would be difficult at times for the country merchant to accurately deter- 

 mine the quality of eggs delivered. In reply to these points, the use of a large 

 candling outfit similar to that which is used in Denmark was recommended. Such 

 an outfit would permit of placing 120 eggs before the light at once. The process 

 of candling would thus be made both easy and rapid. 



" A report was received of the progress of a similar movement in the State of 

 Michigan. It was shown that within an incredibly short time the system of ' quality 

 payment ' had gained wonderful progress. Those who had taken it up in that State 

 declare most emphatically that it would be a mistake to go back to the original 

 case-count method. Their experience has proven, contrary to their former ideas, 

 that ' quality payment ' was gladly accepted by the producers. The dealers also 

 found it much more satisfactory to conduct their business by following such a 

 system. They were convinced that it would be a matter of only a short time until 

 it would be adopted throughout the entire State. 



" At the conclusion of the last meeting it was moved that the association of 

 dealers adopt, after June 1st, 1913, three grades in purchasing eggs, viz. : 



" New-laids Eggs which are sound, full, sweet, and not more than five days old. 



" Firsts Eggs which are sound and sweet but having a limited shrinkage. 



" Seconds Eggs of inferior quality but not bad. 



" It was further moved that the association petition the Government to enact 

 legislation making it illegal to buy or sell bad eggs, and also to appoint official 

 inspectors to enforce such legislation. The motion was received reluctantly and 

 when put to the meeting was lost. 



" It icas then moved that the members of the association agree to purchase all 

 eggs after June 1st, 1913, on a ' loss-off basis '; that is, to pay absolutely nothing for- 

 bad eggs. This motion carried and teas supported by all the dealers present." 



