CHEESE MANUFACTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20496, 22 February 1930, Page 15

CHEESE MANUFACTURE.

POLICY OF INDUSTRY.

STANDARDISED PRODUCT.

DECISION AT CONFERENCE.

[B7 TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

PALMERSTON NORTH. Friday.

A most important conference in connection with the cheese industry took place in Palmerston North to-day when, after four hours' discussion upon standardised and modified manufactures, it was decided, with small opposition, that the policy of the industry shall be to aim at standardised cheese equal in quality to full cream cheese from milk from lower testing breeds. The conference was probably the most representative of its kind ever held in New Zealand. Delegates were present from 85 North Island cheese companies, while Mr. John Smith, of Wyndham. Southland, represented 60 to 70 cheese factories of the South Island.

A remit sponsored by South Auckland delegates that cheese be sold on its merits with the elimination of the words "standardised" and "modified" was lost. So was another remit that during the months March to July cheese containing under 52 per cent, but not less than 50 per cent, fat in dry matter be allowed to be exported under the standardised brand. A suggestion that the fat content be 50 per cent, throughout the year was also rejected, together with a motion that finest grade be re-established. Mr. W. M. Singleton, director of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture, in an address pointed out that experiments proved that the addition of large quantities of skim milk resulted in a pasty and sticky cheese. There were many producers who felt a sense of relief that standardised cheese had been accepted at Home, but it had not yet stood the test of time. As regards modified cheese it was wrong to allow 260 tons to prejudice SO.OCO. Professor Riddet, of Massev College, and Mr. P. O. Veale, of the Hawera laboratory, pointed that the use of too much skim milk affected the flavour of cheese. Any attempt, made to lower Llie standard would seriously affect the industry.