Standardised Cheese

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 187, 6 May 1931, Page 11

Standardised Cheese

Sir, —In your issue of April 28 a correspondent, “Solid Content,” writing on the subject of standardised cheese, states: “If New Zealand is to regain her former reputation in this industry it is imperative that those engaged must use the heavy milking herds such as the Shorthorn, Ayrshire, and Friesian.” As long as these breeds are penalised for supplying a first-class article, what chance has the industry of recovery? At the present time the New Zealand Government pays a subsidy to herd-testing associations and encourages farmers to breed high-testing cattle. The Dairy advises farmers to breed high-testing cattle,, and then we see the result. In England makers of high-class cheese that fetches 100/- to 106/- per cwt. to-day would not think of using Jersey milk for cheesemaking. . . . Let us look at what has happened to this valuable industry in New Zealand. At the present time most of the cheese factories are closed, and have been for some time, where Jersey cattle predominate. The reports that these companies have been getting are appalling. And now thev have definite information that the Finns will be . dumping large quantities of cheese into the only market that New Zealand has for her cheese. The Finns have cheap labour and their standard of living is very different to the New .Zealand standard, and they are. not such, a long distance from their market. With New Zealand cheese'quoted at 49/- per cwt., what is going to happen next spring? How many farmers will be able to take another gruelling like they have had this season with their standardised cheese? And the result will be that most of the cheese factories will turn their attention to butter-making, only to find that they are faced with over-production of butter. This valuable cheese industry that was worth many millions to New Zealand has received a severe setback, and no effort has been made by the Government to save it. It is true that Mr. Singleton, of the Dairy ' Division, told the New Zealand farmers that the Canadians had “no Jersey problem to contend with,” and that is as far as he went..

The position now is that the Jersey breed has left its mark on the beef industry. and on the cheese industry, and now they are going to complicate the butter industry, not that the Jerseys are unsuitable for butter-making, but if the whole of New Zealand goes in for buttermaking. where are we going to find a payable market?

Many farmers think that if thev revert to full-cream cheese they will overcome the difficulty, but the dairy companies know they cannot make full-cream cheese where Jersey cattle predominate. . The only way to build Up the industry is by the system of payment: it is no use paying on fat only, when the fat is not even used in the process of cheese-making. And if is no use to tell farmers to supply milk from Ayrshire. Shorthorn. and Friesian" cattle if these men are penalised for doing so. But if they were paid on a casein hutter-fat basis matters would soon right themselves. If New Zealand is going to overcome her labour troubles and financial difficulties can she afford to sacrifice her primary industries? And surely it is time that Parliament looked into these matters and got the assistance of the best brains available, even if they have to send to England or Canada for suitable men. —I am, etc., OLD FARMER. April 30.