STANDARDISED CHEESE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20273, 26 June 1931, Page 14

STANDARDISED CHEESE.

ABOLITION URGED. decision of national dairy conference. approval by large majority. (PBXSS ASSOCIATION TILEOBAU.) NEW PLYMOUTH, June 25. Decisions of importance to the 'dairy industry were reached at to-day's session of the National Dairy Conference, at which over 600 attended. The most significant recommendation was one to revert from standardised to full-cream cheese, which, in effect, calls on the Government to prohibit the export of cheese made from milk, from which any portion of butterfat has been extracted. A recommendation to reduce the number of grades from three to two was defeated, as was also a remit that the waxing of cheese be abolished. A recommendation to abolish the national brand and return to individual brands was lost. A committee was set up to Investigate the question of unified control. The North Island representatives on the committee are Messrs Stubbs (Northern Wairoa), Anderson (Cambridge), Free (Mangatoki), Marchant (Cardiff), Eoberts (Parkvale), and Begley (Heretaunga); South Island: Messrs Fishor, Bagrie, and Smith. Discussing standardisation, Mr Dixon (Pakowai) said the reference "made to standardised cheese in the House of Commons was the worst advertisement the industry had ever received.

Board Chairman's Views. Mr W. A. loms, chairman of the Dairy Produce Board, said ho had been fairly well abused for having told the industry the truth about its position in the United Kingdom. If the conference decided to vote out standardisation as a result of his statements, he would be the happiest man there. He considered it necessary to speak strongly when he returned, as it was necessary that action should be taken. If the quality was good, it would bring the best price. The Dairy Board had received letters from all parts of Great Britain urging New Zealand not to send skimmed cheese. It was his duty to tell the truth fearlessly. He had indulged in no recriminations in spite of the mud thrown at him; but he was prepared to debate tho matter publicly with anyone, and could promise to give concrete cold facts.

Standardised Cheese Defended. Mr W. Dynes Fulton said reports had been received from English traders that they eould tell standardised u easily as full-cream cheese. If the members of the London Importers' Association wanted only full-cream cheese, why did they buy standardised, cheese t He considered that Mr lorns and other members of the Daity Board had done more harm than anyone to the cheese industry. His company's Information was that consumers did not know whether it vtes standardised or fullcream choese they were purchasing, and the propaganda against the former came from the blenders, who did not get the same amount of fat in standardised as in full-cjream cheese. When the moisture content in butter was legalised, the importers said the trade would be ruined, continued Mr Pulton. This had not occurred, and the producer had benefited by the moisture content. He had fought for standardisation, and he etill believed that with it they could have given a higher return to the producers. Last season Ms company had paid £20,000 more for tat taken from milk for cheese-making. The propaganda against standardised cheese was not justified. If the best quality always brought the highest price, why did not the importers pay a higher price for higher quality South Island cheeset (Voices: ''They do.") The abolition of standardisation would affect the butter factories also. He considered the Dairy Division afhould make a further experiment. He was willing to place a factory at their disposal, and he appealed to the conference, as producers, to take this course. The Department's cheese conld then be sent to England unmarked, and they would see how it panned out. A Large Majority. Mr Burton (Kaipororo) said if the remit were carried it would mean the closing of many factories where they were receiving high testing milk. No one could say standardising had caused a Blump in prices; but it had been a scapegoat. The recommendation that standardisation be abolished was carried by a large majority, although a large amotmt of production was represented by the opposition v,otes.