BUTTER AND CHEESE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21295, 23 September 1932, Page 5

BUTTER AND CHEESE

STANDARD OF MANUFACTURE i SATISFYING HOME DEMAND FACTORY ASSISTANTS CONFER The necessity of maintaining "the quality of New Zealand's exported dairy produce in the face of severe competition was stressed by Mr. E. C. Woods,, dairy produce grader in charge at Auckland, speaking at the annual spring conference of dairy factory assistants yesterday. Mr. Woods said that in the year ended June 30, New Zealand had supplied 25 per cent of the butter imported into England and 59 per cent of the cheese. A great deal of confidence had been built up round the New Zealand grading stamp and ifc was necessary that suppliers and manufacturers should not vary from the standard established by such stamps. The principal adverse comment heard in connection with New Zealand butter was on the somewhat neutral flavour it sometimes had. Afc the same time, in trying to brighten the flavour, factory managers should be very careful not to endanger the keeping quality of the butter by giving it too high an acidity. In view of the geographical position of New Zealand, the keeping qualities above all should be safeguarded. The British customer had become accustomed to a mildflavoured butter. Mr. C. Stevenson, cheese instructor, and M. W. Dempster, butter instructor, also spoke, giving technical advice on manufacture. An interesting discussion followed on the best cleanser for churns and other plant, hot brine or limo solution being recommended. The danger of spoiling tho butter flavour by an over-free use of washing soda, caustic soda or chlorates was mentioned. In the morning the assistants were shown over the grading stores and various points were explained. The election of officers resulted as follows :—President, Mr. S. G. Finch; committee, Messrs. J. K. Jones, F. Runnistrum, L. W. Scott, R. Williams, and C. Barker; honorary secretary, Mr. W. 11. MacPherson. WILTON COLLIERIES FURTHER LOSS DISCLOSED RAILWAY CONTRACT SECURED A loss of £6500 is disclosed in the third annual accounts of Wilton Collieries, Ltd., for the year ended June 30. This compares with a loss of £ll9O in the previous year and a loss of £1832 in the first year of operations, making the total debit in the profit and loss account £9611. Trading conditions, it was stated, had not improved since last report.

"During the past year," continues the report, "great efforts were made to stabilise th© coal industry and the directors did everything possible to assist in this direction, but without success, and for our efforts wo were asked by competitive companies to close our mine. This led to drastic changes in our policy, in that we found it necessary to withdraw from the Waikato Coal Mine Owners* Association, also the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners' Association, and conclude _ a separate agreement with our miners, which enabled the Wilton mine to keep working and supply its customers while the other Waikato mines were closed owing to the strike."

The selling of the output from the mine was ix* the hands of an outside organisation and it was found necessary to cancel that arrangement, as the sales were not sufficient to enable the company to worK. successfully. The coal sold for the year totalled 49,270 tons, all grades, and for the first three months since the company had undertaken its own sales, 19,200 tons of coal had been sold, as against 12,000 tons sold under the old arrangement for the same period last-year—an increase of about 7000 tons. The loss was due entirely to lack of business, owing to the lowered purchasing power of the people and the necessity for economy. Every saving possible consistent with efficiency had been effected, and royalties for the next 12 months had been cut in half and would represent a very considerable saving to the company. Equipment hnd been maintained in firstclass order and while no depreciation been written off, £2120 had been expended in keeping the plant in its original condition. The company had been successful in securing the Government contract for the supply of coal to the New Zealand railways, representing 25,000 tons over a period of about 14 months. The retiring directors, Messrs. J. A. Gentles and T. E. Clark, are offering themselves for re-election. The paid capital of the company showed an increase of £1937 to £93.208. Debentures, an issue of £35,000 of which was being offered at the date of balance last year, appear at £17,050, while liability to the bank, including deposits and sundry creditors, is £1916 lower at £27,964. Assets total £138,222, as against £125,114 in the previous year. Mining property is £434 higher at £19,941. Mine development, railway, plant, etc., is shown at £92,168; stocks, sundry debtors, cash on deposit and on hand, £6381; preliminary expenses and brokerage, £9686. The total only of these items was shown in the previous year at £103,150, which compares with a total of £108,235 in the current balance-sheet. NEW YORK MARKETS BUOYANT UPWARD MOVE • NEW YORK, Sept.. 21 With a vigour that matched its best performances of the summer rally, the New York stock market swept buoyantly upward to-day. There were numerous net gains of five to seven dollars and more. On the commodity exchanges cotton soared more than 2i dollars a bale and wheat 2£ cents a bushel. BUTTER MARKET SLOWER AN EASING IN LEVELS Prices for New Zealand butter on the London market are slightly easier, top quotations for finest at ll3s to 114s comparing with 114s to 115s earlier in the week. The market is reported to be quiet to weak. Merchants have received the following cablegrams from their London houses, dated September 21:— Joseph Nathan and Company, Limited, from Trengrouse and Nathan, Limited.— Butter: Finest, 113s; first, 110s. Cheese: White, 645; coloured, 60s. Both markets weak. A. H. Turnbnll and Company, Limited, from W. Weddel and Company. Limited. —Butter: Danish, 121s to 1235; New Zealand, finest, Ills to 114s; Australian, 104s to 107s. Cheese: White, 64s to 655; coloured, 59s to 61s. Both markets are quiet. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited.—Butter, finest, 113s; firsts, 110s. Cheese: White, 645; coloured, 60s. The markets are slow.