BUTTER PACKING

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 72, 26 March 1935, Page 11

BUTTER PACKING

THE EXPORT BOXES

LACK OF SOLIDITY

HOME TBADE COMPLAINT

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, February 16.

At a meeting of the National Council of the Federation of Grocers' Associations of the United Kingdom held at Folkestone a few days ago, discussion took place on the packing of New Zealand butter. Complaint was made of damaged one to the produce by reason of its packing in unsuitable boxes. It was stated that New Zealand butter had, until a few. years ago, been packed in solid pine boxes, but, during recent years, a new and cheaper type of box had come into use, consisting of very thin panels of wood, reinforced by battens at the corners, and fastened by wires. . Soon after the use of this box became common, a year or two ago, criticism began to be heard regarding its suitability for the packing of butter. The main causes for complaint appear to be that the thin boards used for the various parts of the box allow air to pass through, thus causing mould on the surface of the butter, and, further, that they are easily cracked, thus admitting dust. The matter culminated in a resolution being passed at the council of the federation in October last, urging that packers be asked to revert to the use of the solid type of box. "UNWARRANTED INSULT." From an article which appeared in the "New Zealand Herald" on November 26, 1934, it appears that this complaint was commented upon by Mr. C. J. Parlane, general_manager of the New Zealand Go-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., who described the statement as "eyewash." Mr. Parlane, it is maintained, dismissed the complaint in a manner which scarcely carries conviction, in view of the widespread nature of the dissatisfaction recently expressed by importers and grocers in England. Mr. Parlane's uncomplimentary reference to the association's resolution came before the National Council meeting at Folkestone, and was dealt with by $he Parliamentary Committee of the Federation of Grocers' Associations, which stated: — "We have also pressed upon the Australian and New Zealand authorities that butter-packers should revert to the use of heavier and more substantially constructed boxes in order that the butters should be presented to the public in the finest condition. These representations have been remitted to the Dominions for consideration. Meantime, any further complaints should be remitted to federation headquarters promptly, with the fullest possible details, in order that prompt investigation may be made. It; is with regret that we record that the general manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., has, according to a report published in the 'New Zealand Herald,' described the Statements made at our last National Council meeting on this subject as 'eye-wash.' This is regarded as an unwarranted insult to the federation, and tha attention of the High Commissioner for New Zealand has been directed to the statement, with an intimation '■ that' the "federation' regards such treatment by a responsible representative of the New Zealand dairy industry with considerable dissatisfaction. In view of the fact that if is authoritatively reported to us that New Zealand butter boxes 'often get broken in transit, with the result that dirt gets' through to the butter,' we feel that .New Zealand butter packers should pay serious; attention to our representations, and not to dismissthem "with a slang expression;" | ENGLISH SUMMER TROUBLE. ' The chairman, Mr. A. E. James, of Cardiff, said the report told them that the federation had pressed upon the New Zealand; authorities the necessity for butter packers reverting to the use of heavier and more substantially constructed boxes in order that the -butters should be presented to the public in the finest condition. The secretary would leave no stone unturned to see that their1 complaints were brought before the right quarter in order that they might be rectified. ;

Mr. E. F." Gillett (Bristol) said the reason why no complaints had been sent up lately was that the time was not opportune. The time when they experienced trouble with these colonial butters was during the summer months, and not in the winter when they were getting new butter and cold weather. It,was during the summer, when the weather was warm and the butter was older, that they had reason to complain. He hoped that delegates would forward complaints to the federation when they received them, so that the New Zealand packers would realise, that they were not "eyewash." (Hear, hear.) The secretary said he wished to make it clear that it was not the New Zealand Butter Board which made s the'offensive observation about tneir complaints being "eyewash," because, as a matter of fact, they took a good deal of notice of the representations which the federation had made to them on the matter.