The Hawera Star. TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1930. THE CHEESE POOL.

Hawera Star, Volume L, 29 July 1930, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1930. THE CHEESE POOL.

Delivered every evening by 6 o’olook in Hawera, Manaia, Kaupokonui, Otakeho, Oeo, Pihama. Opunake, Nornianby. Okaiawa Eltham, Ngaere, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Te Kiri, Mahoe, Lowgarth, Manutahl Kakaramea, Alton, Hurlej ville Patea, Whenuakura, Waverley. Mokoia, Whakainara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Boad, and Ararata.

The Taranaki Dairy Federation is to be congratulated upon the decision it made yesterday to institute a cheese pool for South Taranaki for the purpose of paying a premium on finest grade cheese. Though the factories in the northern portion of the province are not committed by yesterday’s resolution, there are, apparently, good prospects of the north joining later. The immediate benefit hoped for as a result of the adoption of the premium by Taranaki is the arrest of the downward tendency of quality —a tendency that has become a rapid “slide” in the last year or so. The statement of the chairman of the Federation (Mr T. A. Winks! that 42 pei cent, of the Dominion’s cheese is graded at Patea and Moturoa and that the percentage of finest grade shipped from Patea this year was only six per cent., was significant from more than one point of view. The reference to the fact that something approaching half of New Zealand’s cheese output, comes from Taranaki should act as a reminder that this province has the power to make or mar, in a very large degree, the goodwill of the Home trade towards New Zealand cheese. Though it is a matter for regret that the powers that be have not see fit to do vise ways and means of bringing the whole of the industry into line on the ;premium question, it is apparent that Taranaki alone, by concentrating on quality for a few seasons, can do much Ito w r in back the favour of the Home consumer. The fact that only six per cent, of .South Taranaki qualified for finest grade during the last season is striking evidence of the extent to which' southern dairy factories have neglected quality—for no one will contend for a moment that this serious falling away is wholly due to failure to overcome the problem of openness or any other problem which besets the cheese-maker. Happily Taranaki is at last awake to a realisation that quantity alone is insufficient and that so Jong as it is supplying a market over which it has no monopoly, but on | which it. has to compete with all the [cheese-exporting countries of the world, so long will the industry here have to take a longer view—a view which looks further than to the monthly pay-out at. the factory and one that takes into account the taste of the consumer and the value of building up and retaining a reputation for even quality at a standard which assures the largest demand