TOASTED CHEESE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1013, 31 July 1891, Page 23

TOASTED CHEESE.

HOW OUR EXTORTS ARE TREATED

THE NEED OF AN EXPERT.

That an expert is required, if our dairy produce is to become a large and profitable trade, to not only grade, but see that butter and cheese is properly shipped at this end, is seen by the letter of the London correspondent of the Auckland Star, dated June 13th, in wliicli he says : ‘ The consignments of cheese which arrived per the N.Z.S. Rimutaka turned out, I learn, Tery badly indeed. The vessel arrived in tho Royal Albert Docks on the 31st May. On Monday both Mr Gray and Mr Reynolds went down to the vessel, and found that tho cheese was in two separate lots; one porfci on being carried as ordinary cargo in No. 5 hoi d, and the remainder in a reputed cool chamber between decks. The former was found to bo in very fair condition, though slightly heated. On tho door of the cool chamber being removed, Mr Gray noticed that the temperature of the place Beemed much too high

but it was not until the following day that ho discovered the true stilte of affuirs. On Tuesday he saw a portion of tho contents of the cool chamber delivered into tho sheds. Then ho found that the major portion of the cheese was in a shocking condition. The contents of some of tho packages were absolutely nothing more or less than a liquid mass, which exuded from every opening in the cases. All was very badly heated. MiGray then went back to the vessel to ascertain if possible the cause of the trouble, but he was unable to inspect the chamber owing to the heat and stench. Later ho and Mr Reynolds inspected the chamber. It was in a frightful mess, tlie door and sides being literally plastered with melted cheese. MiGray thought it advisable under tho circumstances to consult bis solicitors, and in spite of the apparently small protection afforded by the bill of lading in eases of this kind, he was encouraged to proceed in his endeavours to obtain redress for the unfortunate shippers of this cargo. ‘ The following day Mr Gray called upon the various consignees. He was much surprised to find that they were totally unaware of the condition of tilings. (London houses do not yet appreciate the absolute necessity of attending to this class of produce the moment the vessel arrives in port.) Mr Gray asked them to co operate with his firm (Messrs Coey and Co., of 45, Tooley-street) in taking the necessary steps to recover from the shipping company. One or two of the firms agreed to do so, and it was decided, upon advice, to obtain expert opinion as to tho probable cause of the untoward heating of the cool chamber.

‘ On the Sth June Messrs Gray and Reynolds waited upon tho New Zealand Shipping Company, nud expressed a hope that the Company would see their way to compensate shippers, but they came empty away. ‘ After some further parloy with consignees Messrs Coey and Co. decided to instruct expert engineers to examine the unsatisfactory chamber and the ship. Two surveys have taken place during the present week. On both occasions Mr Gray was present, and he seems tc consider that these preliminary steps so far justify his firm in the course taken.’ As we have often pointed out, unless the Government exercise a keen supervision over the export of our dairy produce, it is simply an uphill and, perhaps, losing game for our farmers to enter the London markets with their manufactures.

Our butter and cheese require careful grading and an official mark if we are to gain the confidence of distant buyers. Other countries recognise that this is essential and profitable. The cost ot an expert’s duties would trebly repay the Colony in the first twelve months, not, perhaps, directly, but indirectly through the enhanced value of the article.

Tho expert should be a man of practical experience in the shipment of butter and cheese, and should personally inspect each shipment, to see that it is located in its proper position in the ship’s cool chambers, and that due provision is made for a complete isolation of the butter from the cheese. He should have power to refuse to ship unsuitable packages, that is, packages, either of butter or cheese, of an unsuitable nature to carry the contents in a satisfactory condition to its destination. Such a catastrophe as mentioned in the above London letter, would probably not have occurred if an expert had seen that the cheese was properly shipped. The large American cheese-shipping firms have experts of their own to inspect each case of cheese before shipment. We cannot do this at present in this colony while our trade is in its infancy, but if the trade is properly nursed by the Government for a few years, there is every reason to believe that the trade will assume such pi-o-portions that shippers will be in a position to pay their own experts. The fruit trade, to, now that it is starting under such favourable auspices as the reputation it made with last season’s shipments, requires Government supervision. The butter expert should be a man, who, from practical experience in the English market, knows exactly what Covent Garden buyers require, and, by inspecting each shipment of fruit, grade it according to English requirements, This would have a wider effect than is at first imagined. People with capital in England are making inquiries respecting land in this Colony for fruit-growing. The prices realised for New Zealand apples and their splendid appearance, their superiority over American or even Tasmanian apples, are leading capitalists to think that there is money to be made in the trade. The appointment of an expert grader and inspector of shipments would give a better feeling of security to intending speculators, who, in many cases, are thinking of sending their sons out hero witli capital to invest in orchard lands.

Tho expert, if a man of varied experience and an enthusiast in such mattei’s, could give valuable assistance to orchardists by explaining tho best methods of packing and shipping fruits, and probably before long potatoes and

other products. England is getting more and more dependent upon outside sources for her supplies of these articles, and it will be our own fault if we do not cater for the immense trade that is to be done. But the first step should be—Government interesting themselves in developing the trade, and to that end the appointment of a suitable expert is a sine qua non. The expense of an expert need not be large. The same man who grades the butter and cheese should be capable from experience to grade fruit and potatoes, if he understands how they are required to be delivered to London buyers. He could exercise a keen supervision over the various shipments. One capable, energetic man could, until the trade grows larger, superintend the whole of the present shipments from this Colony.