STANDARD CHEESE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 135, 20 March 1931, Page 2

STANDARD CHEESE.

OBJECTIONS TO BRAND. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGE (Per Press Association). HAWERA, March 19. Refering: to the cheese standardisation controversy of last winter, and the subsequent comment at Home concerning “Cheddar,” the brand authorised in New Zealand export of other than full cream cheese, the “Hawera Star” to-day publishes a message from a Wellington correspondent that the New Zealand High Commissioner has cabled to the Dairy Board as follows: “With reference to your telegram of February ‘2B regarding Cheddar cheese, I am afraid you have misunderstood my previous telegram. There is no question or accusation of intention to mislead, and my former message was intended as a serious warning that your action in applying the term Cheddar to standardised cheese, which is looked, upon hero as second-class, was giving rise to adverse criticism and alienating the sympathy of traders of all descriptions. 1 have received strong representations, from the Grocers’ Association and members of the trade, and I have noted the report of the Economic Committee, but, notwithstanding the fact that some makers here, do remove a portion, of the fat, the practice referred to is deprecated, and Cheddar is looked upon generally as whole milk cheese. The Dairy Board has received protests from the London Chamber of Commerce, the Grocers’ Federation and the London Provision Exchange, and a verbal protest from the Cheesemakers’ Federation. I strongly recommend the discontinuance of the word ‘ Cheddar ’ as soon as possible, and I am certain, that its application to standardised l cheese will prejudicially affect us and lose us the goodwill of the cheese trade.” It is stated that a reply has been rent stating that is is impossible to discontinue the use of the brand “Cheddar” immediately, as the season’s manufacture will be almost completed by the end of April, and it would be extremely inconvenient to attempt to change* during this short period. The High Commissioner has been asked to ascertain if objections will be satisfactorily met if the present brand is used for the balance of the season, and an understanding that it be then abandoned unless the cheese so branded satisfies the trade.