GRADING OF MILK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21131, 14 March 1932, Page 11

GRADING OF MILK.

SUPPLIES TO FACTORIES. TWO STANDARDS PROVIDED.' NEW REGULATIONS GAZETTED. Provision for tlio grading of milk, by way of amendments to the regulations under the Dairy Industry Act, 1908, as to the manufacture and export of dairy produce, is notified in the Gazette. It is provided that milk supplied to any full-cream cheese factory shall ho graded into one of two classes, to tie known as first grade and second grade respectively, and that milk supplied to any creamery or skimming station shall he graded as finest, first grade and second grade respectively.

In the case of a full-cream cheese factory first grade milk shall be milk which, in the opinion of the grader, would, if manufactured separately by approved methods, without pasteurisation, make chccso of such quality as would grade not lower than first grade. Second grade milk shall be milk which, under the samo conditions, would make cheese under first grade. The standards for milk supplied to any creamery or skimming station provide that finest milk shall, if separated and manufactured separately by approved methods, make butter of such quality as would grade finest. First grade and second grade milk shall be milk which, under tho same conditions, would make first and second grade butter respectively. Every owner of a full-cream cheese factory, creamery or skimming station shall, within seven days after tho close of each week or part-monthly testing period in which milk has been graded, forward to the Department of Agriculture a return of the grading. The question of introducing milk grading was discussed recently between the Minister of Agriculture, the lion. C. K. Macmillan, anil the Dairy Board, which was reported to be wholly in favour of the scheme. The Minister subsequently stated that there was no intention of making compulsory any differential payments to suppliers as a result of grading or of doing anything more than to give the system a trial under practical working conditions. This would enable suppliers and factory managers to form their own opinions of the merits of the system, and would furnish a practical illustration of how milk grading would work if, after full consideration, it was put into operation next season in complete form. At the beginning of this month a deputation representing farmers supplying cheese factories in the Wairarapa, Southern Hawke's liav and Manawatu districts waited upon Mr. Macmillan and protested against the reported intention of the Government to introduce milk grading. The Minister asked them to try the system until the end of the season, and to take a vote on the question among those concerned.