NEW ZEALAND BUTTER AT HOME.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 6 May 1911, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER AT HOME.

4 SUGGESTED APPOINTMENT OF AN EXPERT. BY TELEGEAra—PB,T-SSS iSSOCIi TIOS. WELLINGTON, May 6. The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. T. Mackenzie, yesterday received a deputation from the National Dairy Association regarding the appointment of a Government expert in London to watch the interests of New Zealand butter and cheese at the Home end. Mr P. Cuddie, Chief Dairy Commissioner, attended on behalf of the Dairy Division. Mr A. McFarlane, President of the Association and Chairman of the Ballance Dairy Co., said that at a meeting of the Association last month, owing to numerous complaints received about the condition of New Zealand butter, the directors had recognised that the time had arrived hen an unbiassed man should be sent Home as an expert, and this deputation had been appointed to urge the Minister to make such an appointment. As the Minister was. aware 4 they had gone in for pasteurisation, expecting by this means to get nearer the prices realised by the Danish article. • However, they were further away from their idea. Hon. Mr Mackenzie: You,are within 2s of it. ' Mr Macfarlane: "Yes, at the present time." They were satisfied with the grading, which ran from 93 to 94 points, but when their agents complained, on account of the butter being "fishy," they wanted unbiassed advice to show where the butter had gone off. Then the Anglo-Continental Pro-duce-.Company, Ltd., of 36 Tooley St., London, was acting against the interests of New Zealand butter. He quoted from the company's circulars, in which they said: (February 17, 1911): "The quality of New Zealand butter is each steamer worse than the previous one, and buyers are turning their attention to the best brands of Victorian, which are undoubtedly the finest butter coming from the colonies this year—probably owing to the climatic conditions prevailing." "This," continued Mr Macfarlane, "was doing harm to our butter. Other circulars issued by the same firm were to a similar effect. He quoted from a letter received from a dairy company that Had been pasteurising for the last two years under the best conditions, pointing; out that in view, of the great care taken in manufacturing it was difficult to understand why the butter was not of better quality on arrival at Home, yet this butter m New Zealand was graded at 95. If that were so, the butter was travelling under bad conditions. What they wanted to know was how they could save that 2s. An unbiassed expert at the Home end would be a great advantage to them. Hon. Mr Mackenzie: What is your • man doing when at Home? Mr Macfarlane: He sends us certain reports, but he is not an expert. It is only the commercial end he is looking after. Mi;"W. Fisher, a member of the Association's executive, and chairman of the Taratahi Dairy Factory, brought under the notice of the Minister the grading of New Zealand cheese. Were their graders, he asked, doing the work on the right lines? Indifferent reports here became first-class reports at the other end and vice versa. The question was: Were their people at Home giving them fair and accurate reports or were they biassed? Some of the cheese managers claimed that the graders here did not grade on the right lines, and they w t ere preplexed as to whether they should" make moister or drier cheese. Hon. Mackenzie replied that the general question of appointing a man in London had given him a good deal of attention, and about the middle of last month they had practically decided to endeavour to secure an expert for this purpose. Of course, the appointment would have to get the approval of Cabinet. He considered that there was a good deal in what the deputation had said. They wanted a qualified man who was absolutely independent of all employers or sellers' interests j and he could undoubtedly advise them as to the actual condition of the output when it arrived'in London. As to its subsequent development., that was another matter. An expert could report to them in what way the produce had gone off, and tell them if it was "off" when I landed. Of course, the Governmeat had been doing a great deal during the last 12 months to advance the industry, and this meant a good deal of money. Last year .the dairy industry directly cost tke Government £11,000. In connection with pasteurisation the producers had given them a good deal of assistance. This season's output must be the best class of butter ever sent away from New Zealand. The question raised regarding cheese was one for experts, and well worthy of inquiry. In order to strike the right, lines, however, it was pleasing to know that our cheese was occupying its present high position m the London market. Regarding the circulars issued by the Anglo-Continental Company, he had been in communication with the High Commissioner. He (Mr Mackenzie) knew exactly what the i situation was, and they were leaving [ the matter in the Commissioner's hands to take such action as he deemed fit. The point had been raised as to whether the statements' in the circular constituted libel or not. They had had that sort or thing in connection with the frozen meat trade, a member of the Home Parliament rising and declaring that the meat would give cancer to the people He (Mr Mackenzie) was on the spot, but it was with the utmost difficulty that he could get the London papers to take it up, and it was only through his personal acquaintance with the editor of the Standard that he f ™ ?et a refutation published. As ne had said, it was his intention to recommend the Government to select the best man they could find to take up this work. ! Mr Macfarlane suggested that it would be a good thing if a date stamp was put on the butter boxes, so that m the butter before shipment