CHEESE INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 74, 22 February 1930, Page 6

CHEESE INDUSTRY

DISCUSSION OF PROBLEMS. ACTION BY CONFERENCE. Vital matters affecting the manufacture and export of cheese wero dealt with when the conference cailed at Palmerston North by the National Dairy Association was resumed yesterday afternoon, after the discussions which had occupied the morning. Mr A. Morton presided. Remits deferred from the Whangarei conference pending the return of Mr Singleton from abroad were brought forward as follow : (a) That fat content be stamped on every crate of cheese by dairy produce graders, and also that the * words “standardised’’ and “modified” be eliminated from the Dairy Act, and that cheese be sold on its merits, or in other words, “fat content.” (b) That cheese made during the months of March to July, both inclusive, containing under 52 per cent., but not less than 50 per cent, fat in dry matter, he allowed to be exported under the “standardised” brand as it is still in accordance with the brand on the crates, but that it may be graded as second grade if the department considers ihc quality is likely to be lowered by the difference in “fat content.” Companies represented at the conference were Awatuna, Alton, Ararata, Ashhurst, Bruntwood, Bell Biock, Belvedere, Ballance Valley, _ Bainesse, Bidwill, Cambridge, Cardiff. Cape Egmont, Carrington. Dalefield. Eltham, Featherfcton, Grcytown-Wnirnrapa, Hawera. Hamua, Hopelands, T. L. Joll, Kaitawa._ Kakepuku, Knponga, Kaupokonui, Kaimata, Kai Iwi, Kairanga, Kuku, IConini, . Lepperton, Lakeview, Mere Mere, Mangatoki, Mells, Manutahi, Melrose, Mangatainoka, Mangahao, Manawatu Reliance, Maharahara, New Zealand Dairy Coy., Norfolk, Ngaire, North Tiraumea, Newman, Nireha, Opouriao. Otakiri, Oaonui, Otaraia,. Patua, Pembroke, Parkvale, Pahiatua, Paraparaumu. Parewanui, Papatawn, Piroroa, Rotokare, Rahotu, Rongokokako, Rexdale, Te Polio, Taratahi, Tawaha, Tararua, Tamaki Tataramoa, Waimana, Waitoitoi, Waingongoro, Wellington Dairy Farmers' Association, Woodville, Horowhenua, Whakamara, Mangnwhata, Makowhai, Tui, Normanby, Oroua Downs, Riverdale. In addition the South Island delegate represented 6itxy or seventy factories. The Masgey College was also represented.

NO DEFINITE EVIDENCE. When put to the vote the first remit dealing with fat content was lost on the voices. “I feel that the resolution passed this morning has cost the cheese industry a considerable amount ot money, and here is our chance to retrieve the position,” stated Mr C. J. Parlane, general manager of the New Zealand iTairy Company, in moving the following amendment to the second remit:— “That in the absence of definite evidence to prove the necessity tor 52 per cent, fat in cheese during the autumn and winter months, the rat content in standardised cheese be 50 per cent, throughout the year.’’^ Mr ri. Fergusson (Norfolk) seconded. Support for the amendment was voiced by Mr Fergusson (Oroua Downs). .Mr Dynes Fulton indicated his support for the proposal, asking if the industry was going to lose or gain through the difficulty of keeping down to within measurable distance of the minimum. Opposition to the reduction of the standard below 52 per cent, was voiced by Air Taylor (Ngaire) who stuted that it would leave to excessive skimming. Air P. 0. Veale (Hawera) stated that he could not see why large portions of skim milk should have a deleterious effect on the cheese. However, scientific opinion was not always final, and the views of so many practical men who did not support it could not be ignored. Their opinion, that the addition ot over 20 per cent, of skim milk would affect the keeping quality of the cheese must not be disregarded. At present there were a large number of factories in Taranaki using 16 to 20 per cent, of skim milk and Mr Singleton’s prediction that it would rise to 40 per cent, if the fat minimum was reduced was well-founded. It certainly would occur in Taranaki. He intended to institute research into that matter immediately, and until then there could be mere conjecture. Dr. McDowell agreed, stating that there were no published results to show that there was a loss of flavour in cheese through the introduction of larger quantities of skim milk. Until experiments had been conducted nothing could be said concerning the effect of such conditions on the quality of the cheese. Mr Anderson stated that in the Cambridge district no factory had put in more than 15 per cent, of skim milk this season. They could not legislate for extreme cases. Mr Raikes (Oroua Downs) stated that it had not been proved to hiß satisfaction that the addition of skimmed milk was detrimental to the cheese. Mr Lepper (Lepperton) stated that his factory had been putting in 20 per cent, of skim milk during the past two months. The grade had been 92-93 and there had not been one crate of modified cheese. Mr Heaynes (Hopelands) stated that the quantity of skim milk used should he left to the judgment of the individual factory manager. Mr Parlane said it had been proved conclusively that there was no definite evidence to show that the addition of skim milk was detrimental. He would withdraw the amendment, and offer the use of one of his company’s factories for tests to be carried out by Mr Singleton. DECISION OF POLICY.

The Director of the Dairy Division stated that before that could be dealt with, the policy of the cheese industry had to be discussed and decided. He had already indicated the alternatives offering. Mr Parlane stated that it was not possible to decide the policy until the tests had been carried out. With the consent of the meeting he withdrew his amendment pending the experiment. The second remit was then lost on the voices. Mr Anderson (Cambridge) then moved that the Director of the Dairy Division be asked to accept the offer made by Mr Parlane. He said the matter had to be investigated and he would like to see an experimental quantity exported. Mr S. Fergusson (Norfolk) seconded, stating that it was on that understand' ini? that he had consented to the with* drawal of Mr Pariane’s resolution. The chairman stated that the matter rested with Mr Singleton. Mr Singleton said the opinion of the meeting should first be given on the future policy of the cheese industry. Were they going to manufacture a standardised cheese in harmony with the full cream cheese of the lower testing breeds, or manufacture to the minimum and accept the probability of those factories at present_making whole

a far bigger matter than the other suggestion wlucli had been advanced. Air Eliott (Kai lwi) suggested that they follow on the lines laid down bv Mr Singleton, and make a standardised cheese approximating as close as possible the full cream cheese from the lower breeds. He moved a resolution to that effect, Mr Hausen supported him. Air Anderson stated that if a policy was decided upon it was the first time ho had ever heard of one in the business world being adopted without preliminary investigation. Air Aleuii (Taranaki) stated that Air Singleton had already indicated the results of experiments at Longburn, and if they were to be carried on, it should be at Alassey College. Mr Heaynes stated that conditions at the college were entirely different from those operating at the factories. The chairman pointed out that experiment® at Alassey College were under tho control of the New Zealand Dairy Research Institute. Professor Riddet said he would like to disillusion thoso who thought the experiments were carried on with the farm’s own herd. Aliik was obtained from other factories. Trials had to be carried out over a long period to give satisfactory results, if it was the wish of tho industry that the question should be taken up, it could be done, but work in connection with research into the openness of cheese would be delayed. Mr Singleton stated that for two years, during January, February and April, experiments had been conducted at the Longburn factory. It was on the basis of the results achieved that the Dairy Division felt it was not desirable to use too much skim milk in the manufacture of cheddar cheese. Mr Parlane was now asking for what was merely a duplication of that work. He felt that they should keep the standardised article up to what the trade expected for autumn cheese. The motion asking the Director of the Dairy Division to accept the offer made by Air Parlane was lost by 36 vote's to 21. Air Eliott’s motion supporting the attitude of Air Singleton was then carried.