CHANGE TO CHEESE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23721, 30 July 1940, Page 9

CHANGE TO CHEESE

EEAL DIFFICULTIES ADDITIONAL COSTS QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY fyno.M or it own correspondent] MORRIXSVILLE, Monday The request made by the New Zealand Dairy Hoard to dairy farmers to respond to the appeal of the British Government for an extra 15,000 tons of cheese from New Zealand this season was referred to by Mr. F. W. Seilert, chairman of directors of the Morrinsville Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, at the annual meeting of the company to-day. Mr. Seifert said that while everyone was anxious to assist the war effort, there were some real difficulties in the way. The directors had interviewed many suppliers in districts in which there were cheese factories, and had endeavoured to persuade them to change their supply from butter to cheese. The only way in which the output of cheese could be seriously increased was by taking the extra supply from those who now sent their cream to butter factories. Cost to Each Farmer The extra costs involved would be considerable. Each farmer concerned would have to spend from £BO to £l2O on cans and transport, while the cheese factories would have to instal extra vats and other plant. The suppliers continuing to supply butter factories would lose on account of the decreased supply affecting manufacturing costs and the pay-out. Mr. Seifert said he and the secretary, Mr. J. L. Faulkner, bad spent two days in Wellington trying to obtain advice as to how the position should be met, and it was marvellous how few Government officials would accept any responsibility with regard to the matter. All they did was to issue the instruction to increase the cheese output and then to leave it to the companies to carry out the order in the best way they could. There were few cheese factories in North Auckland, and little or nothing could be done in that locality to increase the output of cheese. Spreading the Burden

Another matter related to the production of pigs, which would bo detrimentally affected by a swing-over to cheese. The Government had been asked to share some of the burden involved by the extra costs, but no final answer had been received. Mr. Seifert thought the extra costs should be borne the whole industry, and not by one section only. Mr. Seifert concluded by stating that it was tlie duty of every farmer to do his best to respond to the appeal made by the British Government, ajid he was sure every effort would be made to produce all the cheese possiblo.