Minister Speaks of Milk Grading

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 February 1932, Page 6

Minister Speaks of Milk Grading

QUALITY OP PRODUCE MUST BE

KEPT UP

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The maintenance of a high standard of quality in our dairy products is a matter of paramount importance to the Dominion, and the necessity for this 1S fully recognised by those responsible for the conduct of the dairy industry, states the new Minister of Agriculture (Hon. C. E, MacMillan). In 19-6 a system of grading cream, with differential payments according to quality, was instituted in connection with buttermaking, and this, after a minimum of difficulties in practice which were quickly and satisfactorily oveiconie, has since worked smoothly and well and with great benefit to the industry. lor some time past the industry has discussed the question of establishing a system of grading milk for cheesemakiim but there has not been absolute unanimity upon it in the North Island this not being due to any doubt as to the soundness of the proposal, but rather to an apprehension that, if dif forential payments • according to grade wore instituted, suppliers who were discontented on account of their milk bcin<r graded below first quality would cehso to supply the cheese factories concerned and, instead, separate their crcimi and send it to a buttei factorv, Should individuals take this course,, however, their cream would be sub-' Ject to grading and to a' differential

payment according to grade. Milk grading has to be conducted on a

method differing from that in use with cream, and a simple test has been., evolved for use in connection with it which, in practice, should prove satisfactory both to suppliers and to factory managers. The question of introducing milk grading throughout the industry has been fully discussed lately \yith the Dairy Board, w-hich is wholly in favour - of it, and proposals are now under consideration by the Government for giving it a start during the remainder of : the present season throughout the Dominion under trial conditions only. There is no intention of making compulsory any differential payments to suppliers as a result of grading, or of doing anything more than to give the system a try-out under practical working conditions. This will, on the one • hand, enable both suppliers and factory managers to form their own opinions as to the merits of the system under - conditions which cannot detrimcntally affect anyone, and on the other hand - furnish a practical illustration of how* milk grading would work if put into operation next season in a completeform.