BETTER BUTTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 158, 6 July 1935, Page 13

BETTER BUTTER.

GRADE ADJUSTMENTS.

CLEANING OF FARMS. i\ CONTROL BOARD CRITICISED. The Government's scheme of financial assistance to dairy farmers and. dairy companies to enable necessary improvements to be made in buildings and equipment was the subject of comment among representatives of the dairy industry this morning, the concensus of opinion being that it was not finance so nmch that was needed to bring about a better product but a tightening up of the regulations. "What does the pro'posed financial assistance mean to the dairy farmer?" queried an ex-factory manager whose life lias been devoted to the industry. "At the most it means a saving of 1 per cent, and as the average farmer would not want to make improvements costing more than, say, £100, lie would save £1 a year. Does anybody with a knowledge of the business think that will improve our product? The Government must know that the majority of the dairy companies are strong enough financially to give the farmers all the financial assistance that is necessary. The banks will advance to the companies whatever money they require. Many of the companies to-day are helping the farmers financially by advancing on long term, money for fertilisers, separators and other equipment; while other companies go as far as lending on chattel seeurity. Practical Solution. "The scheme outlined by the Minister of Agriculture will do practically nothing to rehabilitate the industry," he continued. "The only practical solution is more stringent observance of the regulations. Tlie sterilisation of milking machines should be compulsory and there should be a steeper step in price between 'finest' cream and second grade. The difference to-day is l£d. This should be raised to 3d. If, for instance, the price for 'finest' grade butter fat is 8d and second grade can only bring M the farmer will quickly improve conditions on his farm in order to get the maximum price as he would find that at 5d he could not exist. If the differentiation were compulsorily fixed at 3d between finest and second grade the farmer would quickly be 'on his toes.' The reaction would come within a week and it would be all in the interests of New Zealand's product." Too Much Interference. A representative of a company which deals with butter both for the local and export markets gave it .as his opinion that there was far ';oo much Government interference. "The farmer is made to comply with all sorts of regulations, some of which are not needed," he said, "while there is more interference with the marketing of New Zealand butter than with the butter of any other country. Old established houses in England will not deal with controlled butter when they are able to deal with a free product. It is just as necessary to sterilise the Control Board as the milking machine."