DOMINION CHEESE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 93, 21 April 1933, Page 5

DOMINION CHEESE

IMPKOVING QUALITY

DAIRY INDUSTRY MOVE

MINISTER'S REVIEW

A reviewof the efforts being made to improve the 'quality' of New Zealand cheese.is made by {lie Minister of Agriculture (the. Hon. C. E. Macmillan) iv a statement issued last evening. Mr. Macmillan said that at the con-; ference held in Wellington - March 7 last of representatives of all sections of the dairy industry, convened for: the purpose of discussing ways and means, of overcoming tho difficulties which have arisen iv connection with' the manufacture of cheese, a commir.tee was set up from the interests 13----presented for the purpose of considering in detail the methods to be adopted in order to give effect to the decisions arrived at. The personnel of the committee included representatives of the Department of Agriculture, Now Zealand Dairy Produce Board, dairy produce merchants, New Zealand Dairy Research Council, dairy chemists, dairy company secretaries, and dairy factory managers. A meeting, of this committee was held on April 12, and as a basis of discussion a resume of a proposed new plan of action based upon the decisioas arrived at during the March meeting was placed before it. These decisions really represented the adoption of recommendations made in the first place by the Dairy Board, and were as follows: — x (1) That regulations be gazetted to prevent a supplier from leaving one factory for another. (2) The definite establishment of milk grading with differential payment. (3) The licensing of factory managers. ! (4) The Dairy Division to take over a cheese "factory as requested by the board. MILK GRADING TESTS. The committee gavo; very full consideration ,to tho .proposals regarding the line of procedure necessary for carrying out,these methods towards improvement, special attention being given to the question of tests to_ be used in connection with milk grading. In. addition, a resolution of the Research Council strongly recommending that steps be taken to ensure that au adequate supply of both hot and cold water was available in dairy farnn, was gone into in all its aspects, including that of finance. « The, committee discussed the yaribtis points submitted to it in a thorough and constructive way, made other suggestions, and passed several resolutions, all- aimed at assisting in: getting the new methods established on good and effective working lines, which would prove of value to;dairy farmers and to the industry as a whole. In. connection with some technical points connected with the application of tests in carrying out milk grading, which raised considerable discussion, it s was arranged that the scientists and departmental officers concerned confer upon these at an early following date, and afterwards report their conclusions to the committee ns a whole, this course meeting with- full approval. . . ■ . '■•■•■. IMPROVEMENT SHOWN.' During the course.' of /toe meeting,a cable from tho High Cpmmissjonsr was read, which stated that1 this; sea-; son's cheese showed improvement. It was realised, however, that there was much yet to bo done in order, to: bring; our cheese up to a proper standard of quality. .. . • ' , ■ , . : . "I must1 express again my sincere thanks to the Dairy Eloard and to the members of the committee for the time they havo freely .given to this important question, and for their genuine and earnest endeavour to assist in placing our cheese industry on tho footing wo all desire," said the Minister. "The departmental staff is'now, pushing matters forward with a view to having- everything in order :-■.! or commencing the new season under, the improved conditions which have been agreed upon."-. ■/•■■■- v '. : ;