OVERHELD CHEESE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 June 1924, Page 5

OVERHELD CHEESE.

POSSIBLE LOSSES IN LONDON

, Official and private advices have neen received from London of the unsatisfactory condition of unsold cheese that arrived there early in. the year (states the ‘Wellington Post). It is reported that a large part of such cheese so held is soft at the ‘‘crowns” —that is, at the top and bottom of the cheese with the result, in the worst cases, of adhesion of the bottom of the cheese to the crate. The cheese itself would be in first-rate condition on leaving the Dominion, and on arrival at destination, also at store, so long a s the weather remained cold. But with the coming of June, and in fact before that, the ordinary atmospheric temperature is usually too high for the storage of cheese for any length of time, unless in particularly cool cellars. Ordinarily cheese from New Zealand may be said to pass straight from the ship’s hold to the wholesale merchant, s o that there has hitherto been no necessity for providing long storage laeilities ensuring the necessary regulated temperature. Apart from cold stores usee] for meat, butter, and other refrigerated produce! there are but few special facilities available for liolcling cheese'in large quantities for long periods of time Some of the cheese affected lias been in London sirnfe as far back as February last. A loss of only Id per pound, on cheese through being soft or for any other reason, and not allowing for ordinary shrinkage, would represent 7s per crate, or on a line of 7000 crates to £350. It is reported that cheese landed and stored on consigning companies’ account. ,arriving as far hack as February last, is still in store. The cost of storage would have to Ire reckoned in with the loss in condition. Inquiries made by the Post into the matter in official quarters here go to show that some of the cheese that lias been longest in store has now been released tor sale, where arrangements have not been completed for boldine; it in suitable cold storage. It was added that cabled reports as to satisfactory conditions of stored cheese about balance those that gave a contrary account of the produce.