THE FIRST ESSENTIAL.

Hawera Star, Volume L, 14 February 1931, Page 7

THE FIRST ESSENTIAL.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—There is a grave danger in to-night’s news of a rise in cheese, which compels me to write again—the danger that cheese will lift to a payable level before our house is put in order, for then, for certain, the old policy of drift will continue. A word about Air. Murray’s letter of the 6th. His attack on Airs. Harrison was as unwarranted as his defence of the cheese-makers was pointless. Her complaint of the unshaven chins was not so ludicrous as lie would pretend—l presume he would expect his butcher or baker or anyone handling hi.s food to at least look clean. Apart from that, she made no attack on the cheese-makers; it was on the method of manufacture. Indeed, Air. Murray’s letter would have been of no interest were it not for his official position and the unfortunate impression that here is another group of Australasians that resent criticism. He quotes with approval the work of Riddet and Yeale; well, surely to goodness they have spoken in no uncertain voice on faults in manufacture.

The ultimate argument in this controversy is the price. Despite, as -Mr. IL Johnston jwints out, our natural advantages over Canada, it is monstrous that we are 20s below her, and this discrepancy is no new thing. Ourcheese is bad, and I thoroughly agreet with Mr. Johnston that the position. has desperate possibilities. But i be-j lieve there is something more vital j than the battle of the breeds and even the method of manufacture, and that is the purity of the milk. The finished article depends on the raw product-. supremely so if it is a food. A proportion of our milk is produced under impossible conditions and is bad. Every director has known that for years. But all this past year they have .spent their strength on technical profundities, from propaganda and premium pool to casein and cocci, practically ignoring their own job—the milk. .1 again appeal, as I did in July last, to begin at the beginning. Start at the cowshed. I am convinced this grievous problem lias become more complex through overlooking simple facts. Can’t a commission of practical men Fie set up (unpaid, please —no more professional and political honoraria) to report on the production aspect. The commission could include a shed inspector and Air. A'eale for expert reference. They?ll find the warrant, plenty of material, on the farm. First and foremost, the milking machine; the proper type; its proper care; water supply and heater. In a wider field, the authority of the shed inspectors j| the giving of proper and responsible power to factory managers; the interfactory competition for supply; delineation of areas; co-operation (save the mark!); share-milking and short I leases. It’s get on or get out, now. Mr. Editor.—l am, etc., FIRST ESSENTIAL.

Feb. 12, 1931. [While agreeing entirely with our correspondent so far as he goes, we suggest that the “first essential” is to reorganise the industry so that these may be a directing “head'’ capable of being convinced of the need tor action along the lines indicated by any commission. We would be pleased to learn our correspondent’s views upon the suggestion put forward by Hie “Star” on Thursday.—Ed. “Star.”]