QUALITY OF CHEESE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21329, 2 November 1932, Page 7

QUALITY OF CHEESE

RECENT COMPLAINTS MR. C. J. PARLANE'S VIEWS LACK OF SPECIFIC INSTANCES [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Tuesday Doubt whether the publication of reports of complaints concerning the quality of New Zealand cheese was in any way helpful to the industry was expressed by Mr. C. <T. Parlane, general manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, to-day. Mr. Parlane said it was questionable whether the reports did any good, particularly when they were of a general nature without any specific instances being quoted. A representative of a large Tooley Street firm recently said lie had heard more complaints with regard to New Zealand produce while ho was in the Dominion than he had ever heard in London. Mr. Parlane considered that this opinion was very largely correct. About 18 months ago much adverse comment was made concerning the quality of New Zealand cheese, continued Mr. Parlane, and the standardisation of milk for cheese-making was then held to be responsible, tho result being that regulations were gazetted, compelling all cheese companies to manufacture only full cream cheeso. It now appeared that tho same trouble experienced with standardised milk cheese was apparent in the full cream article. It would therefore appear that tho many thousands of pounds that were lost consequent on reverting to full cream cheese might well have been saved to the producers of this Dominion. While he was not in accord with many of the drastic statements made, Mr. Parlane considered there was no doubt room for improvement in the quality of much of tho cheeso produced in New Zealand. Even undor the best of conditions there were certain faults in New Zealand cheese that were puzzling experts, particularly tho question of openness, but with tho attention that was now being given to this matter by Dominion scientists and cheese-makers generally, he had not tho slightest doubt that this problem would eventually bo solved. One of tho difficulties in connection with tho manufacture of high-grade dairy produce was the lack of facilities on many of the farms for the thorough sterilisation of milking plants and dairy utensils and the cooling of milk and cream. Unfortunately, electric heaters which had been installed in many milking sheds were proving inefficient. It was also desirable that tho dairy division should assume control of dairy factories in several different districts throughout a complete dairying season, for tho purpose of experimenting in the manufacture of cheese under ordinary factor;,- conditions, said Mr. I'arlanc, and any cost incurred in so doing, should be borne by the industiy as a whole. He was of the opinion that investigation was also required in regard to tho effect of various grasses on tho quality of milk produced. Ml'. Parlane added that for some time past his company bad adopted the practice of with holding from shipment crates of cheese and regrading them at different periods, in some instances lip to five or six months from date of going into store, and it- had found this distinctly helpful, as it enabled tho company to ascertain the condition in which tho cheese should arrive on the London market.

RAISING GENERAL STANDARD OPINIONS AT CAMBRIDGE [from our own correspondent] CAMBRIDGE, Tuesday In a statement issued to-day, Messrs. F. 11. Anderson and W. N. Perry, chairmen of directors of the Cambridge and Bruntwood Co-operative Dairy Companies respectively, contend that the complaints made with respect to New Zealand cheese in England in no way refer to the ouput of their factories., The two companies export 47,000 crates of cheese annually, and regular inquiries made among their selling agents in England reveal that their cheese has met with satisfaction from the trade. The statement continues: "It is little satisfaction for factories which aro concentrating on quality, with a full realisation that it is the only way to meet the difficult marketing conditions, of the day, that their success is being jeopardised by the actions of others in the dairying business whose identity is always safeguarded by the Dairy Division and the Dairy Produce Board. It is useless contending that the solution is for all to do better. Tho solution is for the organisation controlling the industry to insist that the defaulters put their house in order. "The Dairy Division could go a step further and do its utmost to bring in a national system of farm dairy instruction, which has again and again received tho approval of the industry, and not leav.e the necessary work to the factories who are prepared to spend their own funds to have the instruction carried out among their suppliers. With butter and cheese selling under a national brand, tho lowest range of quality has a greater influence on the goodwill and price of the produce than tho highest range of quality, and steps should be taken immediately to enforce such regulations that will tend to eliminate some of tho faults in cheese complained of." SMITH'S NEWSPAPERS NET LOSS OF £17,185 Smith's Newspapers, Limited (Sydney), reports a net loss of £17.185 for the year ended June 30, compared with a loss of £11,476 in tho previous year and a profit of £14,874 in 1930. The directors state that tho prohibition of imports caused a fall in overseas national advertising and local advertising was affected. There were at present distinct indications of improvement. MONETARY CONDITIONS CHANGES IN AUSTRALIA Money market conditions were reviewed by Sir Arthur Robinson, chairman of Freehold Assets, Limited, Melbourne, last week. Since April, ho said, there had been a distinct improvement in tho market value of shares in industrial companies, banks and Government securities. Much money was available for investment for what might be called gilt-edged liquid investments, which were readily realisable, hut owing to tho uncertainty of (he position in regard to mortgages of freehold property, there was an evident unwillingness to lock up money on inortgage. Hitherto trustees and others with money to invest had preferred mortgage securities to Government bonds, owing to the fluctuating value of the latter compared with the fixed return of the former. Recent legislation had altered that position, and mortgages now were riot so popular. Although tho statutory reduction in rentals and interest on loans had affected earnings, the company had sufficient in hand to provide for the interim dividend at the rate of 6 per cent pi»r annum.