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Imports As is the case with chilled eggs, the amount of pulp manufactured during the season was restricted in an endeavour to release as many eggs in shell for consumer use, and, therefore, any leeway between the quantity of pulp manufactured in New Zealand and the total demand will be supplemented by continuing to import from Australia. Until such time as New Zealand egg-production equates to consumer and commercial demands, the policy of importation must continue. The payment of duty is made by the Division on all pulp imported, and the necessity to fix a price comparable as near as possible to New Zealand's flush egg-prices must inevitably result in a financial loss to the Division. Quantities of egg-pulp imported during previous years and the year under review are as follows : Dozen Equivalent. 1942-43 .. .. .. 2,722,020 1943-44 .. .. ..2,286,732 1944-45 .. .. .. 2,662,107 1945-46 .. .. ..1,709,670 1946-47 .. .. .. 3,085,920 1947-48 .. .. .. 2,525,000 (estimated). The pooling of eggs in each marketing area still continues, and credits accumulating due to stocks carried forward on a rising price, together with reductions in payout prices from current wholesale prices are used either to cushion losses sustained during the falling-price period or transferred under Ministerial authority to the National Egg Pool Account, from which payments are made to the industry for approved purposes. The Post-war Marketing Advisory Committee established by the Minister of Marketing and Agriculture, and including members of the New Zealand Poultry Board, Price Tribunal, Department of Agriculture, consumer representatives, and this Division, has presented its report, and it is at the present time still under consideration. PEODUCE SECTION Potatoes v At the time of writing last year's report it was estimated that there would be little or no surplus when the season finished at the end of November, and this turned out to be the case, and actually there proved to be no surplus and no shortage. During November, some 300 tons were crated and shipped by the Division for the British Commonwealth Forces, and a small quantity was also dehydrated at the Biccarton factory for the same purpose. The new potatoes available during the months of November, December, January, and February proved sufficient to meet trade requirements, although there were occasionally temporary shortages during November and December, due mainly to weather conditions delaying digging and marketing. The area planted to meet main-crop requirements from March to November, 1947, was satisfactory, and it is pleasing to be able to record that a fairly substantial increased area was obtained in the North Island Manawatu-Bangitikei districts. Yields in those districts proved to be good, and the quantity of table potatoes available enabled the North Island to be self-supporting until the end of April, after which customary supplies from the South commenced to come forward. South Island crops proved to be very good in North Canterbury, where the largest area was planted, but they were poor in South Canterbury, many of the larger areas proving quite unprofitable to growers. Adverse weather conditions in South Canterbury area were the main cause of this poor

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