STANDARDISED CHEESE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20827, 20 March 1931, Page 7

STANDARDISED CHEESE.

BRAND "CHEDDAR" OPPOSED

PROTESTS MADE IN LONDON. WARNING TO DAIRY BOARD. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday. Advice has been received in Taranaki that the brand " Cheddar," which it was decided to use on New Zealand standardised cheese, has met with disfavour from the trade in England. It is stated that the High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Wilford, has been in communication with the Dairy Board on the matter, which is causing some disquiet. At the annual meeting of the provision trade section of the London Chamber of Commerce, according to a report in the Grocer of February' 7, attention was drawn to the new Cheddar brand, and adverse comments made upon it by several members. One speaker said that in the West of England they felt strongly that Cheddar should be used only for the best cheese made in Britain. Hie trade would not object to New Zealand's calling its full cream cheese Cheddar, but it was the application of the name to standardised cheese, which the speaker said was inferior cheese, which aroused objections. The chairman of the meeting said he thought something could be done by mentioning the matter to the High Commissioner. Evidently correspondence passed on tlie subject, for the High Commissioner has sent the following cablegram to Iho Dairy Board: — " Am afraid you have misunderstood my previous telegram. There is no question or accusation of intention to mislead, and my former message was intended as a serious warning that your action in applying the term Cheddar to standardised cheese, which is looked upon here as second class, was giving rise to adverse criticism and alienating the sympathy of traders of all descriptions. I have noted the report, of the economic committee, but, notwithstanding the fact that some makers here do remove a portion of the fat, the practice is deprecated, and Cheddar is looked upon generally as whole j milk cheese. j " The Dairy Board has received protests from the London Chamber of Commerce, the Grocers' i edcnition and the London Provision Exchange, and a verbal protest from the Cheeseinakers' Federation. I strongly recommend the discontinuance of the word Cheddar as soon as possible, as I am certain that its application to standardised cheese will prejudicially affect us and lose us the goodwill of the cheese trade." This cablegram has been replied to on behalf of the Dairy. Board in New Zealand, stating that it is impossible to discontinue the use of the brand immediately, as the season's manufacture is almost completed by the end of April, and it would be extremely inconvenient to attempt a change during this short period, ] and that next season it will be abandoned unless cheese so branded satisfies the authorities and the trade as regards quality and brand. AUSTRALIA AND THE EAST. INCREASE IN TRADE. EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE. [from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY, March 6. One effect of tho abnormal exchange position is that Australian trade with the East has advanced enormously. Every week liners are leaving Australian ports loaded to the Plimsoll mark with merchandise, and in many cases they have been unable to find space for all the cargo offering. A Sydney exporting firm stated the other day that during the past four months it had been unable to secure sufficient space for many large orders of flour for China. Unless shipping becamo available almost immediately it would have to several large orders from the East and that would be a serious blow to Australia. The firm complained bitterly that the freight on flour had been increased by five shillings a ton. Trade between Australia and the East is spasmodic at any time. The rate, of exchange is now enabling Australian shippers to engage in such free business. The rush of Australian flour to the East is unprecedented. The present exchange rate means an advantage to the shipper of about 35s a ton, and this enables Australian flour to be sold at a price below that charged for American flour. A fall, in the exchange rate would mean an immediate decline in the Eastern demand for Australian flour. Wool shipments to Japan and shipments of sleepers for Chinese railways make a big demand on shipping space at this timo of the year. Owing to contracts made some time ago the companies are unable to give shippers all the space they require for flour. BROKEN HILL MINING. ' RESTRICTION OF OUTPUT. North Broken Hill, Ltd.. is the only mining company at Broken Hill which has not indicated its inability to continue working on the present scale while metal prices are at their present level. Sulphide Corporation, Ltd., has already suspended operations, and Zinc Corporation, Ltd., has given notice of intention to cease or curtail production in two months' time. In the meantime something may happen to allow the companies to continue work either on the present scale or on a smaller scale. The best, help the companies could receive would be to find a ready market for their output of .lead, because stocks are accumulating and liquid reserves have to be used to pay expenses of producing this metal. Thus, unsold metal threatens to absorb the whole of tlio companies' working capital. Other factors which will influence the directors at the end of the two months are the price of lead and the high exchange rate on London, which at present gives exporters a premium of £3O per cent, on the London price of their products. PROPERTY SALES. William A. Home. Ltd., will offer at auction, at their rooms, Homo's Buildings, Vulcan Lane, at 12.30 this afternoon, a four-roomed houso in Newcastle Terrace, Mount Albert, nnd a four-roomed houso "at 81, Fowlds Avenue, Mount Albert. Neville Neweomb. Ltd.. will offer at auction, at their rooms, 4, Wyndham Street, at noon to-day, a five-roomed house and small attached shop in Panmurp Road, EUerslie. Samuel Vailo and Sons, Ltd., will offer at auction, at their rooms, 83. Queen Street, at two o'clock this afternoon, a section on the corner of Victoria' Road and Kerr Street, Devonport; a seven-roomed house of 1} storeys in Queen Street, Northcote; a five-roomed brick house and acre section in Hutchinson Avenue, New Lynn; a fiveroomed bungalow at 16, Pine Street, Remuera; a five-roomed houso in Church Street, Otahuhu: a four-roomed house in Tui Street, Point Chevalier; a six-roomed house in Cameron Street. Onehunga; nnd a fourroomed house in Warwick Avenue, Grey Lynn. T. Mclndoe and Son will offer at auction, at their rooms, 301?, Dilworlh Building, 'a six-roomed house at 220, Manukau Road. T. Mandeno Jackson will offer at auction, at their rooms, 9, Commerce Street, at 11 o'clock this morning, a five-roomed house on section in Hutton Street, Otahuhu.