CARRIAGE OF BUTTER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 August 1928, Page 5

CARRIAGE OF BUTTER.

THE VACUUM CONTAINER

CONSIGNMENT IN FINE CONDITION.

After the failure of the transport of cheese in vacuum containers it will be cheerful news for the promoters of the scheme to know that the butter they have sent in similar containers has arrived in splendid condition, writes the London correspondent of the “Otago Daily Times.” The. consignment by the Devon -consisted of 20 this, in each of which were from 701 b to 75-lb of butter from Smith Taranaki. It was not of the very highest- grade, -but it opened nip as though it- were only made on the previous day. It will be remembered that the containers are shaped like a cheese, but divided -into two sections. When these sections are .soldered together a wire is so arranged that the two halves of the tin may be separated by pulling at- t-hi.s wire. It- may be mentioned that- the wire sometimes breaks, which is calculated to annoy the man who is opening the tin. In the ease of the cheese, once tlie tin was cut in two there remained verv little di ificmlty in getting the cheese out. But with the- butter it was quite otherwise. The process of exhausting the air in. the tin n-atmally caused the soft- butter to expand to its utmost an-d although a paper wrapper protected the contents of the tin from the metal, the butter had shaped itself to every small irregularity ot the metal surpaoe. . First- of all one half of the tin. bail to be pulled away, .but- this too-k more than one man a considerable time. There was nothing to grip, and, ot course, the adhesive or suction power ot the butter was- enormous. After much trouble, however, the tins were opened, and, as stated, the butter was in beautiful condition. . There is isntisfaction an knowing, that the transport is a; -success, but there are other difficulties to face. In the first place, the iron hook is much used to-day when sales of butter are tailing place, especially between the w-holesalor and the retailer. The top of tlie box iis prised open, the butter sampled by the prospective buyer, and the .lid nailed down again. With, the present form of tin this sampling will be almost impossible. 1-f the tin is opened in the importers’ or wholesalers’ stores at will not be possible to secure it again, and there would lie pilfering on trains-or. vans or in stores before the produce o-ets to the retail buyer. , , ” ißut the -problem is not impossible ot solution. Possibly, a cylindrical tonn of container from which the two endscould be slipped off conveniently would meet, the difficulty. Arrangements would -have to be made .so that the ends could be firmly refixed. Again someth! different from paper would have, to protect the butter from the surface of the tin. It- iis suggested that a very thin detachable sheet of metal should lie between the butter and the container No doubt a solution of the problem will be found. In time it may safely be said that the present containers are not an economic proposition. Experts in the trade will be having something to say on the matter in the course of a week or two.