The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1928. QUALITY OF OUR DAIRY PRODUCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 July 1928, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1928. QUALITY OF OUR DAIRY PRODUCE.

Delivered every evening by 6 o'olook In tiawera. Manaio. Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki. Kaponga, Alton Hurley ville Patea. Waverlev. Mo. oia', Wnakamara, Ohangai, Meremere. Fraser Road, and Ararata

T,fiCi statements made in. the. article, dealing iwiittli ttllie quality lof Dound'nii-on dairy producie, amid pnib3iisli!e!d in amir now's -column® on Monday, cadis for comment of same (kind. Tihie most welcome form of commeintt Would toe a 'Statement from dairy company dliree - tats that -the aisseftion that 'there is a 'tendemey on thia part of pur ico-o;pora-five companies ito sacrifice quality for quantity is ,n!0!t justified. Tif no such eon tra'dictiion is made, then it is competent for ithie public to assume that not only are efforts being maidej Ito increase itbo pay-oults to isuppHers at the expense of thle quality of oua* cheese, but that such efforts ihawo the tacit .approval of the men controlling tihe policies’ 'of the warilous companies. Whatever may toe tlhie effect in dairying circles of the statements made by certain highly- resipoms Lblo men engaged lint the industry, in response to. our reporter’s inquiries ou the point of quality versus quantity, it is certain that any acknowledgment that the charges maido were justified would come as l an unpleasant shock to many people in the Dominion whose interest in the industry is merely secondary. It ihas been our habit for so long to extol the high quality of our dairy produce that the general public, which is interested in the question only so far as it affects its own prosperity through, the pur-c-hiafeing power of the farming community, will experience a sense of uneasiness erven at the first breath of suspicion cast upon the good name of orur primary produce. But (the need for the retention of the goodwill of the New Zealand public is l ais nothing compared with ith'o imperative need l for the tmainteuaineo of a good name for quality on the Borne market. Tf it indeed toe a fact that our factories, in: thieir endeavour to meet the fierce competition between themselves for the suppliers ’ support, ore squeezing every ounce of cheelse out of the milk, to (the detriment of Itthc quadity of the manuifaicburccl article, those responsible for tho policy are closing their eyes to a most, serious danger. Local circumstances may .make it appear politic to sacrifice something, if only a little, of quality in order ito get immediate ‘ ‘ results,, ’ ’ tout what can toe said for the vision of those who follow such oj line of reasoning? 11 .may toe possible ito "get away with it" for a year, or two years, tout what is toeing done dn the meantime to that, valuable, .though intangible, something known ns goodwill? It is quite conceivable that damage could be done in three years, by extending the policy a. little further, which could not toe undone- in thirteen. That may be regarded am needless exaggeration, and lit may too sudd that no manufacturing company would carry the Systran so far that ‘.its good name would too jeopardised alt Home, but who cam say where the line will be drown e.vent.na'l ly, once such .a policy is 'entered upon? We are not. making charges against the industry, tout simply eommienting upon the statement mad e t o. us toy room behind the scenes—and these mem were actuated toy the very motive which, impels us to itiake up .this sailbjceif—a most friendly desire .to see the industry prosper. The' subject could mot be raised at .a belt ter rime, for, with the annual meetings of eo-operative dairy companies 'drawing tear, am opportunity will be presented

ta those in authoaitty to do 'one of two things—to prove recent statements unwarranted. and mn justifiable, ot to .tako close stock of the position. Anything less would savour of the reasoning of the ’Osltricli, which believes ithalt when it hiidies it® head .unpleasant facts cease to exist.