DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 September 1924, Page 6

DAIRY INDUSTRY.

BUTTEII AND CHEESE GRADES

RAISING MINIMUM STANDARD

It is anticipated that a pronouncement to be made shortly will indicate that the standard of first-class butter and cheese in New Zealand is to be raised from 88 to QO points, and that, commending from rvovember 1, the taking over of the shipping contract will mark a new era in the dairy export control scheme. The Dairy Export Control Board, set up at the beginning of the year by the legislation of last session,, has begun to .achieve practical results that are officially considered to have dissipated any doubts that may have existed as to the efficacy of the scheme of control, and to have improved the dairy farmers’ outlook, from the point of view of the profitable marketing of outter and cheese on the British market.

The most important of the board’s considerations during the nine months of its existence has had to do with the standard of butter and cheese. The matter has also been under consideration by the Department of Agriculture and the dairy companies throughout the Dominion. The quality of New Zealand b,utter was not fully maintained. during the past season by most of the factories. Climatic considerations were unfavourable, as high temperature facilitated the development of undesirable flavours. Reports have been received commenting on some butter evidencing the flavour of the agent used in the partial neutralising of acidity in the cream. The board has given full support to a proposal to raise the minimum points for firstgrade batter and cheese from 88 to 90 points, and this will quite possibly be put into, operation.

The shipping contract that was in existence when the hoard was elected terminates on October 31. From that data onwards the board will handle the shipping contract, and, for the first time in the history of the dairy export industry, a central body will have authority to negotiate and act on behalf of it. The board has .appointed a thoroughly-qualified refrigerating engineer, with a knowledge of shipping dairy produce, who will, on behalf of the board, inspect all ships’ holds and refrigerating systems, with a view to improving loading and transport conditions where necessary. The Overseas Delegation lias been negotiating with the underwriters in London, and .alreay . considerable reductions ill rates have taken place, amounting to a sum sufficient to pay the expenses of the board for many years.

Compulsory cream grading is now being seriously considered. One of the causes responsible for the fact that the quality of the- raw. material has 'not. been improving is the competition among dairy companies, which has resulted in a tendency to carry cream over long distances,. and reduce the number of deliveries- weekly. It is considered likely that some form of compulsory cream grading will be instituted in the near future.

Branding is another matter that has been receiving attention, as between the Department of Agriculture and the board. Nothing has yet been finalised, but an: alteration' proposed by the Department, in connection with whey butter, has been considered and supported by the board, as being cf value in protecting the good name of the best creamery butter. In the matter of the manufacture of butter from whey ; cream, the Department holds that there is loom for 'much, improvement. Acre is, it considers, evidence of too little care being given to the cream between the time of separation and manufacture. A number of, dairy companies have forwarded for, export whey butter of good quality, thus emphasising., the. fact that this is a profitable adjunct to the industry. The. board has been negotiating for .improved facilities and reduced freights for dairy produce on the railways. The Minister of Railways has announced that lie proposes reductions in railway freights,- aggregating £200,000 for the coming year. Benzine and wool have been stipulated by Mr -Coates as items on the railway tariff that are to benefit. Dairy produce has not been specially mentioned, but farmers, as well as the board, are anxiously awaiting a public pronouncement as To the relative measure of the reductions in freight on the Dominion railways.— Dominion.