INCREASE NEEDED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20573, 5 June 1941, Page 4

INCREASE NEEDED

CHEESE PRODUCTION * SUPPLY TO BRITAIN DOMINION PROBLEMS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Before the war, the maximum amount of cheese imported by Britain from all sources in any one year was 154,000 tons. Next season New Zealand alone is asked to produce 160,000 tons, an increase of 40,000 to 50,000 tons cn the current season’s record production. Australia, Canada and the Li.-ited States of America will also he supplying more. Problems involved in obtaining increased prediction in New Zealand and possible ways in which these problems may be met were outlined yesterday by a man closely associated with the dairy industry. The record production of this season, he said, was obtained merely by diverting butterfat supplies from butter to cheese factories, in order to keep the existing vats full the whole year round. In the coming season something more would be required. Every vat would have to be used to the best advantage.

This would mean working double shifts at many factories. It ‘would ■also probably mean a redistribution of production units. Some vatswould be removed from the existing cheese factories. ■ ■ / ,i' Reopening of Factories • Those vats remaining would be used twice daily, and those removed would be placed in another district, possibly in casein stations at present disused. Some old cheese factories which had been closed for a number of years would, no doubt, be reopened. It was also possible that butter factories in some districts where there was a large supply of milk available within a short radius might' be asked to build temporary annexes for cheese manufacture. This would allow the existing steam plant to be used to full advantage. The building of new cheese factories would not be encouraged, he said. Anything done would have to be regarded as of a temporary nature, because there would not be a market after the war for the huge volume of cheese at present required. Many factories would be faced With heavy expenditure in making the change-over. It was understood that the Government would lend the necessary money to dairy companies at 4 per cent.

Supply of Equipment

To secure the most economic distribution of the dairy equipment available, every manufacturer in New Zealand had agreed to supply to dairy factories only as directed by the dairy division of the Department of Agriculture. >-..

The change from butter to cheese production would mean several hours’ extra work daily for the farmers concerned, he said, but there were -very few unwilling to undertake it. Most were glad to feel that they were able to do something to help the war effort.

The Government would allow each farmer up to a maximum of £2O toward the cost of special plant required in sheds for milk production. The transport of the large Volume of milk required for cheese, compared with cream required for butter, would present a difficult problem. Already in some cases, however, arrangements had been made for milk to be carted in. lorries owned by the factory. In other cases, farmers living close together might be .able to run trucks co-operatively.