A photographic print of Industry, Agriculture, Poultry - Eggs

The evidence: Betsy's seven-yolk egg UNTIL yesterday no one had very much respect for the chicken as a personality. It was, if it was worth considering, the symbol of the coward. Although even that symbolism was gradually being taken away from it, cowards having gained prestige since they were upgraded to anti-heroes. What happened yesterday was, quite simply, the news about Betsy. She (you cannot call a chicken like Betsy an it, and this is a measure of what Betsy has accomplished for chickens everywhere) laid an egg containing seven yolks. It had never, as far as was known, been done before. Septuplets are as rare among chickens as they are among humans. But it wasn't the purely biological aspect of Betsy's achievement that so impressed the world. It was the timing of this exceptional feat of productivity. We British regard ourselves as sophisticated, but we are as simple as a tribe when it comes to seizing on an event which sums up our national predicament. Here we were wallowing in a great mass of words from our leaders about the economic situation, when Betsy came along to express the solution in a simple, forceful gesture. Where there was one, Betsy seemed to be saying, let there be seven. How was she to be rewarded? The solution she had provided to one problem seemed to pose another. For there could be no material favours granted in the period of the freeze, not even where it was related to productivity. Betsy, it seemed, would have to continue to manage with chicken-feed. Perhaps one of the new honours that are soon to be announced will take care of the matter. What of Betsy's position in regard to organised labour? For this is the remarkable truth: she is a free enterprise chicken, outside the well regulated authority of the Egg Board. She carries no card. It will be interesting to see what Mr. Macleod makes of that. Of course, there will be knockers ready to disparage Betsy's achievement. What meaning, they will say, has one isolated example of productivity to a nation which needs a consistent pattern of growth? Answer these cynics, Betsy, as only you can. You must do it again. INDUSTRY - AGRICULTURE - POULTRY - EGGS.