NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 138, 7 March 1929, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

FALLING OFF IN QUALITY “PALATABLE UNTRUTHS” Dominion Special Service. Auckland, March 6. “Visitors to England are constantly returning to N.ew Zealand to tell you palatable untruths about the marvels of New Zealand dairy produce; you like to be told that, but our produce is not the best in the world, and the only man who ever stood up in a public gathering and told you the naked truth about the decline in the quality of our produce is Sir Thomas Clement,” said Mr. F. J. Nathan, of Wellington, when speaking at the annual conference of members ofthe Auckland district of • the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers’ Association. Mr. Nathan, who is a member of the association’s Honorary Advisory Council, spoke frankly in that capacity and as the representative of dairy exporting interests, claiming also the privilege of one associated for many years with the New Zealand dairying industry. He advocated in strong terms greater scientific interest in dairying, stricter attention to details of manufacture, and the sending overseas from time to time of New Zealand graders to gain firsthand knowledge of the requirements of consuming countries. In • recent years, said Mr. Nathan, there had been a distinct falling off in the quality of-New Zealand butter and cheese. . He could not refrain from wondering whether Mr. W. M. Singleton, Director of the Dairy Division, received under a seal of confidence from the Department’s London representatives, reports other than those published, which would indicate the seriousness of the situation. There was all too little knowledge possessed by the Dairy Division of New Zealand of the exact requirements of our markets across the seas in the United States, Canada, England and the Continent. “How many members of the division and how many produce graders have themselves visited these markets to be able to speak at first-hand knowledge of what they demand?” he asked. He would suggest that Mr. Ross, London officer of the Department, be brought back to New Zealand to give addresses on the palate of the British consumer, and that a number of our graders be sent to examine the requirements of our overseas markets at first-hand. A system of exchange might fit the bill, but something must be done, so largely dependent was the Dominion upon its dairy produce exports.