QUALITY OF CHEESE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21344, 19 November 1932, Page 14

QUALITY OF CHEESE

WIDE INTEREST IN TRADE " DRIFTING FOR SOME TIME " EXPERIENCE OF LONDON BUYER Complaints of the inferior quality of New Zealand coloured cheese have aroused widespread interest in tho dairy produce trade, and mailed reports as to the view taken of the position in London are, being awaited with interest. It has been fairly generally known in the trade that dissatisfaction existed, but hopes were entertained that tho position would right itself after, the export of standardised chreso was prohibited. It is stated thiit there has been a drift in quality for some years, and .it is difficult to assign correctly the reason for it. Although somewhat divergent views aro held, most representatives of the trade are agreed that urgent action is called for to remedy a desperate position. A classic example of inferior colouration, which is quoted in the trade, concerns a consignment of several hundred tons of coloured cheese sent forward a few years ago. Tho purchase was a very substantial one, and was made through an Auckland agent by a British buyer who was to have his first introduction to New Zealand cheese. The deal was com--1 pleted and tho shipment was made. When tho cheese was opened up by the buyer ho found that almost tho whole consignment was "white"—tho colour had drained completely out of it. At the timo coloured cheese was commanding a premium on the market, and the factory, holding a Government certificate for coloured cheese, held tho buyer to his contract. As far as it is known, it was his last experience of importing New Zealand cheese.

W. Woddel and Company's review of the dairy produce market for the year ended June 30, 1932, makes reference (o the high quality of Canadian cheese. It states: —"New Zealand and Australian cheese prices 6eem to fluctuate not according to any law of supply and demand, but in slavish imitation of the butter curve. There is really no justification for such servility, except perhaps the feeling that any anomaly in prices can be rectified by the factories switching over from one commddity to the other. But although this might account for a general similarity in the price differential, such sensitiveness as is shown by New Zealand and Australian cheese prices to every slight movement in the butler market would seem to be unnecessary. Canadian cheeso prices always offer a steady resistance to any movement in the butter market, and except in special circumstances, fluctuate within a very narrow margin, as might be expected in the case of a commodity capable of being held for long periods without deterioration. It continues to maintain its high standard of quality, and consequently commands much better prices than any other description."