CHEESE INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1921, Page 4

CHEESE INDUSTRY

STATE EXPERT’S, VIE\VS

SYDNEY, .July. 30. .. A comprehensive summary of the present position of eheesetnaking _in New South Wales was presented to the Select Committee of the Legislative Coilnoil -yesterday 'bv Air J. G. M‘Millan, the Staff®? cheesy expert, jHe claimed that the conditions throughout the State were favourable to the ’production of good’ cheese,- although - climatically there wa« at titties the disadxttntage arising from, the difficulty of keeping the milk sw4et uhtil the following morning. ...... The industry, Mr ~M‘Millan stated, took a fillip during th<?.‘ war period, , ing to the high price realised for cheese on" the British market. When, how r ever, the British Government ( decided not to enter into a contract for Australian cheese, but did so for blitter at a higher figure, the factories which had dual-purpose, plants went in entirely for butter-making. In the ease of factories making obeesopaly, many of "Ac suppliers separated their fnijk and sent the cream to the bp (for- factory i; wl\e n swell was within a reasonable distance. Some cheese factories through this had to close, and had not reopened .since. At the present time, - however,- the price of cheese allowed of favourable competition with butter but even this did not appear to encourage an increased output.

As ono who bad dieted as judge nt the Sydney Royal Show for several years. Air AUMillnn was convinced that as good an article eoukl bo manufactured here as in any part of the world. For some time,’ however, the general quality of the cheese on the Sydney market was deplorable, but bow there was a tendency towards improvement. One of the main causes of,ball cheese on the market, witness declared, was price-fixing. The clleeseiimker who turned Out a good article received no more for his product than the mini who made something: inferior,’with the result that the careful mail took less care .in the selection of the milk supply, and ihcorp’orated more moisture in his cheese, thereby affecting the keeping quality. Nearly even- faetorv had, unfortunately. some suppliers who continually sent bad milk. The factory manager was afraid to reject such milk because of bis position, with the result that owing to one had supplier the whole vat of cheese became contaminated. The practice was suicidal. and suppliers should wake up to tho fact that if progress was to he made the had supplier must be considered a menace to the industry. Mr AEAfillan blamed the Department of Agriculture for laxity in not prosecuting offenders in this i- noct. A few nrosemitions by the department would, lie thought, have far-reaching effects, and would be welcomed by most of the factory managers and directors and the dnirvinen supplying good milk. Among the suggestions to improve the industry lie mentioned Glean milking, and the straing of milk through specially prepared cloth : cooling of all mill; before sending to llic factory, grading of milk at the factory, the pasteurising of milk tor cheese whenever considered necessary, and the pasteurisation of all whey before it left the factory..