LOW PRICES OF EGGS

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether he is aware of the low price of eggs in recent months and the hardships encountered by poultry farmers as a result; and what steps he proposes to take to maintain a stable price all the year round so as to enable poultry farmers to make a living with-out much economical hardship.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, I am aware of the low prices in recent months, but the hon. Member should know that the prices of eggs depend on supply and demand.

According to statistics collected by the Primary Production Department, the ex-farm prices of eggs dropped to an average of 6.8 cents in March last and the retail price to an average of 8.1 cents. The Primary Production Department, in conjunction with the Singapore Livestock Farmers' Association and the Singapore Stockfeed Manufacturers' Association, organised a campaign to slaughter old and unproductive hens. Between the 20th of March and the 19th of May this year, about 30,600 hens were slaughtered. This measure prevented egg prices from falling further. Since then, there has been an upward trend in egg prices, and in August the average ex-farm price of eggs was 8.8 cents and the average retail price 10.2 cents.

Mr Speaker, Sir, only yesterday, the Minister of Defence had to take great pains to explain why the prices of various goods in Singapore have gone up recently. It is refreshing for me to have to answer a question querying why the price of eggs has gone down.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Has the Minister got the statistics to indicate the prices of eggs in the last few years?

Mr Barker: The average prices of eggs for the last few years were as follows: 1964 Average ex-farm price 8.7 cents Average retail price 10.3 cents 1965 Average ex-farm price 8.3 cents Average retail price 9.9 cents 1966 Average ex-farm price 9.2 cents Average retail price 10.7 cents March 1967 Average ex-farm price 6.8 cents Average retail price 8.1 cents August 1967 Average ex-farm price 8.8 cents Average retail price 10.2 cents.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Will the Minister give me an assurance that his Ministry will keep a watchful eye on the fluctuations in egg prices in order to protect the poultry farmers?

Mr Barker: I give the hon. Member my assurance now. The Primary Production Department is always keeping a watchful eye on the price of eggs not only for the sake of the farmers but also for the sake of the consumers.

Mr Tang See Chim: Would the Minister consider setting up an Egg Buying Board as a measure to maintain the stability of egg prices?

Mr Barker: At the moment, I do not think that an Egg Buying Board is required. But I do not profess to be an expert on this subject and I will ask the Director of Primary Production to look into the suggestion made by the Member for Choa Chu Kang.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, E think this supplementary question may be slightly outside of the original question, but it is related to it anyway.

I was given to understand that there was a proposal to set up an egg factory to turn the surplus eggs into all kinds of nutritious tinned food to be sold to the market. Is the Minister aware of this?

Mr Barker: There was such a proposal but it remained and still is just a proposal. But I would advise the Member for Punggol to direct his inquiries to the Minister for Finance, who is in charge of the Economic Development Board, so that such a factory could be set up in Jurong.

Mr Tang See Chim: Will the Minister concerned -whether he be the Minister for Law and National Development or the Minister for Finance -take steps to implement this proposal?

Mr Barker: I am not in charge of the Economic Development Board. At the most, I can ask my Director of Primary Production to sound first, not the Economic Development Board, but the farmers whose hens produce the eggs.