DAIRY PRODUCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 September 1924, Page 8

DAIRY PRODUCE.

RETAIL AND. PUBLICITY WORK AT EXHIBITION. ■SELLING ©UTTER IN CARTONS. The following extracts are made from a letter received from Mr. W. Grounds, of the Dairy Control' Board, dated “London, July 14th, 1924.” The letter throws interesting light on the cOn_ dition and marketing of New Zealand dairy produce in London :—„ BRANDS TAMPERED WITH. “We note that the question, of branding whey butter was before the board. Evidence has been laid before us of brands having been tampered with the word ‘whey’ being planed off. Several importers have suggested the alteration of the brand. Some have urged.that bvliey’ butter should not be exported, saying, that it goes off in quality so rapidly after being opened up, and that it is , a serious menace to our reputation. We sampled some about a week ago in a warehouse, which was sweet and fresh and quite equal to several of the creamery butters we had tasted. It will probably be worth while to hold ■several boxes of different brands in cold storage in New Zealand for four or five months, and find what quality they display a week or so after being taken from cold-store.” NO FURTHER NEED FOR ANXIETY “On the general question of deterioration of cheese through storing, we are pleased to think that there is no further need for anxiety. Opinions regarding the extent of this deterioration vary very much. It is probable that in so far as it occurred, it was mainly due to it being stored here in anticipation of its going early into consumption. Without any settled police- on the part of the factories, or any clear idea at this end of what factories would decide, cheese was held in ordinary storage longer than it would have been if some settled policy of retention had been decided upon. We shall investigate these matters much further. AT THE EXHIBITION.

“Of our general proceedings and work since arrival; after getting in touch with the High Commissioner and members of his staff, we visited the exhibition at Wembley. Notwithstanding the disabilities always attaching to a hastily prepared exhibit, we found that pur dairy display was very creditable. “Our cabled suggestion of an artistically designed dairy cow in butter had been acted upon with very fine results. This figure, which is the centrepiece of our butter display, has been artictically carried out, aud most continue to be a great attraction. You will recognise the difficulty of making an attractive display—from an exhibition standpoint—ivith ordinary cheese.* “W& think the exhibition committee have done very well with their material and await with interest the arrival of the big cheese, which should promote additional interest in the cheese display. The cheese in the cases have been frequently changed, but .we would have wished that special rimless cheese had been manufactured for this purpose. The large cracks associated with thp rim, on many of the cheese, did not add .to its attractiveness. We may observe that all whom we have questioned upon this point expressed the opinion that our cheese should be rimless

PACKING AND PUBLICITY. “Mr. Paviour Smith, of Dannevirke, is now associated with the dairy section of the New Zealand Court, and 'has organised a sale for New Zealand butter. In conjunction Avith the dep-uty-commissioner he conferred Avith us regarding these sales, and we approved the policy they have been pursuing, i.e., to buy good brands of NeAv Zealand butter grading 93 or over, have it packed in cartons as New Zealand, s?id sell it at the same price as the grocer sells a pound over the counter. This will mean a charge against the exhibition committee of the cost of the carton, hut Are consider it, a sound course.

“A small ‘carry-all’ made of paper, with ‘New Zealand’ printed in large type on both sides' i§ also given, in which the carton is carried away. In the industrial court some nicely ornamental souvenir _canisters have been on sale. This idea has now been re-' quisitoned, and a quantity -of one shilling canisters bought at old, in which two lib cartons of butter can be placed, and thus secure safer carriage. It is proposed to try out a smaller hind, containing two"fib cartons. In these sales the profit on the canisters will more than recoup the cost of the cartons. When the big cheese arrives we will confer with the" exhibition committee regarding the institution of a similar course for them if the quality is found to he up to standard.

DISPARITY IN PRICES. “On the question of the disparity of prices between New Zealand and Danish butter, most are agreed that this is. due to the consistency with which Danish has been supplied to the market, together with its freshness. New Zealand has established itself in the best trade in some districts, but in the north apparently Danish is insisted upon for the best trade, and they continue to buy it even at a premium of 4Us. While it is hard to understand this from an economic point of view it is not so difficult to understand the preference for Danish expressed by thosfe who have been eccustomed to it. “We have sampled several brands during the past week, and while from a technical point of view ours is the best butter, the Danish has a piquancy of flavour which is characteristic of good freshly made butter. From the provinces we hear that while New Zealand butter is sometimes very good, it is too irregular. We have only touched the fringe of this question as yet, but make these general observations for your satisfaction. “Of there tention of present factory brands, all we have yet seen have expressed the importance of it. ‘Have an additional national brand if you will.’ Almost equal unanimity is found also on the necessity of some propaganda to increase the knowledge and consumption of New Zealand produce. There is some variation of opinion as to the method that should be employed.. Newspaper advertising it is considered would only call forth a counter-move from the Danes, with a result in the end that only the newspapers would benefit. “The qualities of butter from other countries have surprised us. They are not so regular as our own, but weliave sampled some very good butter from Australia and Siberia, and quality is the point that counts above everything. * ‘Df cheese, most express the opinion that New Zealand has definitely established a superiority over Canadian. With our large units consistent quality can he depended upon.' From the small Canadian factories there is a considerable variation. Ours is generally better matured. Some express the

opinion that ours is sometimes too open and does not cut just as nicely as it might. This technical point recalls also the observation that some of our butters are being made a little too fresh.”