U.K. To Buy 160,000 Tons Of N.Z. Cheese Next Season

Northern Advocate, 8 May 1941, Page 6

U.K. To Buy 160,000 Tons Of N.Z. Cheese Next Season

[Special to “Northern Advocate.’’!

WELLINGTON, This Day. MEXT SEASON'S CHEESE CONTRACT WITH THE BRITISH n GOVERNMENT PROVIDES FOR AN ADDITION 40,000 TO 50,000 TONS OVER THE PRESENT SEASON’S RECORD PRODUCTION.

It was announced today by the Minister for Marketing (Mr. Barclay), that the Ministry for Food of the United Kingdom is prepared to make a contract with the New Zeaalnd Government for a quantity of 160,000 tons of cheese for the 1941-42 production season.

“The production of such a large quantity of cheese from this country will mean a considerable reorganisation within the dairy industry, as an additional 40,000 to 50,00 Otons will be required over and above the present season’s production,” said Mr. Barclay.

Farmers Will Rise to Occasion ® “I am sure that the dairy farmers of I the Dominion will again rise to the I occasion and make the same effort during the coming year that they have made during this year with such satisfactory results. “The knowledge and experience gained from the change-over measures taken during the current season will be invaluable in "formulating plans for the coming year and the Government intends to consult the Dairy Board immediately with a view to completing details of procedure. “A preliminary survey in anticipation to a possible change-over envisaging the production of 160,000 tons of cheese has already been undertaken by the Dairy Division, and the Dairy Board has also given considerable attention to the issues involved. Dried Milk Wanted Also “It is hoped that in the coming conference between the Government and the Dairy Board the respective parts to be played by the industry and the Government will be fully developed and that an early announcement can be made giving details ro

Zealand could produce, the quantity being extended by the Ministry for Food to 130,000 tons. However, it was felt that the Dominion could produce up to 160,000 tons, and this advice had been cabled to London. A reply was now being awaited. Mr Barclay said the estimates were that 115,000 tons of cheese would be produced in New Zealand for the 1940-41 season. He realised a great deal of reorganisation and expense would be involved in converting butter factories for the manufacture of cheese and in erecting new cheese factories if this was necessary. In this connection the Government would do all it could to assist companies. It was impossible to say what the problems would be in six months, but one thing was certain, and that was that everyone in the country would have to bear his share in cushioning any blows that would be experienced by any section of the farming industry. Work Two Shifts.

the dairy industry of the plans decided upon. “While emphasising their paramount desire for a production of 160,000 tons of cheese, the Ministry for Food also desires the maximum

The director of the Dairy Division (Mr. W. M. Singleton) said the effort to increase New Zealand’s output of cheese to 160,000 tons would involve the working of two shifts in most existing cheese factories, and the reduction of the curing period from 14 to 10 days. He gave estimates of the cost that would be involved. A number of questions were asked by the South Auckland Association. Asked if it was the intention of the Government to accept responsibility for any produce immediately it arrived in

production of dried milk from New Zealand and therefore the changeover plan will have to take that further factor into consideration.”

Waikato Conference. Mr. Barclay, at a conference in Hamilton yesterday of representatives of dairy companies in all parts of the province, appealed to the New Zealand dairy industry to increase this season’s output of cheese of 115,000 tnne tn laflflfin fnne npvt cpnsnn nr if

store, or alternatively to arrange war risk cover over dairy produce, the Minister said the Government had assumed that risk so far, but it was a very difficult problem. If the daffy industry was knocked, the Government would come to its rescue. War Risk Insurance On the motion of Mr. A. J. Sinclair (Te Awamutu) it was decided that the Government be urgently requested to consider immediately the institution of a compulsory war risk insurance to cover saleable commodities during wartime.

required by the British Government, to 160,000 tons. Mr. Barclay said the stock in store position was now satisfactory, and was much better than had been expected, there being 1500 less tons of butter and nearly 10,000 less tons of cheese left in store at the end of April ( than at the same time last year. Since then the figures might have still . further improved.

It was expected that at the end of July there would be 20,000 tons of butter and practically no cheese in store. The British Government’s purchase contracts with New Zealand for dairy produce incorporated a shipping programme which ran until the end of August.

The Minister said he would not give an answer to the request of the Dairy Industry Council that the advance payment of 50 per cent, be made in 42 days, with a final payment in 13 weeks. He added that ample finance was available to companies for advance payment through the ordinary banking channels. Mr. Barclay assured the meeting that the Government would accept responsibility for all dairy produce in store. Tubercular Cows Mr. Barclay said that one way of limiting the production of butter that was being considered was to eliminate, all tubercular affected cows from the herds. About 100,000 cows would be affected. The Minister said he had no further information to give with respect to pigs. Baconers were not wanted at present, but a limited amount of pork would be shipped. The outlook for the industry, however, was ‘pretty black.”

Can Take All Our Cheese, The latest advice received from the United Kingdom, Mr Barclay said, was to the effect that the British Government would take all the cheese New

On account of the expansion of the cheese business, as many bobby calves as possible were wanted, Mr. Earclay said. The meat was of no value, but the veils were wanted for the manufacture of rennet, while the skins were selling well. Mr. Barclay said he would do what he could to provide cheese factories with labour and housing. A number of questions were asked Mr. Singleton. He said it was obvious the quality of the cheese under the double shift system would be lower. All the cheese would have to be graded on its merits, and he would not instruct graders to change the system of grading. Compulsion

Mr. Singleton said that, where butter suppliers would not voluntarily change to cheese, they would be compelled to do so. After the war, those suppliers who had changed over would have the option of returning to their own company or retaining their association with the cheese com - pany. Cheese was 1 a better proposition than butter, because it kept much better, Mr. Singleton said. In the meantime, the department was working on the assumption that 130,000 tons would be required, but was not losing sight of the prospect of 160,000 beingordered. Every ton of cheese that could be made would reduce the quantity of butter that would have to be stored later on.

A motion, proposed by Mr. F. W. Seifert, recommended that supplier's on loan should return to their parent butter companies for at least one season after the cancellation of the emergency regulations.

The death has occurred in Napier of Mr. David Addison Sturrock at the age of 80. He was well known in Whangarei, where he resided for some time. Mr. Sturrock was an assistant master at the Napier Main School in the early ’Bos before leaving to take up an appointment in Marlborough where he later became senior inspector of schools. Mr. Sturrock is survived by three sons, all resident in Canada.