SEPARATOR MILK IN CHEESE MAKING

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6850, 4 March 1929, Page 10

SEPARATOR MILK IN CHEESE MAKING

Protest Raised Against Prohibitory Regulation

The action of the government in passing an Order in Council, forbidding the separating of milk in cheese factories was the subject of protest at a meeting of tho Manawatu executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union which was held on Saturday in Palmerston North.

This regulation prevents the use of “starter” or separated milk in the making of cheese and according to Mr 11. Bond 'who introduced the matter, will mean an annual loss of £BO,OOO to the Dominion.

Under the old practice, it was stated about a can of separated milk would bo placed in each vat of whole milk for the purpose of commencing the formenting process. Thus, in a five vat factory, some five can of separated milk would be used, while the cream extracted from these cans of milk could bo used for the manufacture of butter. During the course of a discussion on the matter, it was stated that no separating was now permissablc in cheese factories, it being required that cheese should be made entirely from whole milk.

The view was expressed by members that legislation so vitally affecting primary producers, should not havo been carried out by tho arbitrary method of Orden in Council.

Mr H. Bond, in bringing the question before the notice of members, stated that the modified cheese regulations had come ‘into force in January. As a matter of fact, however, a number of the testing requirements for curds did not obtain in this country at all. Under these regulations it was forbidden to use “starter” milk iu cheese manufacture. This had been done by Order in Council instead of being first referred to the interested dairy companies. The question was a most important one, for the value of tho cream obtained from the “starter” milk was considerable—at the very least £BO,OOO. Furthermore, thero had been absolutely no call for a drastic regulation of this na.ture. New Zealand cheese already commanded a very high price and when the fat percentage rose, they had found that this prieo fell. The regulation causing all cheese to be made of whole milk would obviously have the effect of raising this fat percentage. He would move that a strong motion of protest be forwarded to the government.

Mr A. F. Maul, supported Mr Bond in his protest and expressed tho opinion that dairymen should havo been notified of the impending legislation. Mr. H. Denton asked whether there was not a better chance of obtaining an improved price for whole milk cheese. Mr Bond: So fa.r we havo had a worse price when the cheese has been too rich in fat.

During further discussion, it was pointed out that tho enforcement of these regulations in the middle of the cheese-making season was causing further loss. Mr Bond took particular objection to the lack of notice .which had been given and stated that tho month’s warning which had been issued to dairy factories was far from sufficient.

As a result of the discussion, the following motion was carried unanimously:— “That this executive enters a strong protest against regulations for the cheese industry being introduced and enforced in the middle of the season by Order in Council.”