CHEESE AND BUTTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6489, 8 April 1908, Page 3

CHEESE AND BUTTER.

ON BRITISH MARKETS. SOME SERIOUS COMPLAINTS. The Minister for Industries and Commerce ha© received the following report from Mr H. C. Cameron, Produce Commissioner, through the High Commissioner for Now Zealand in London: 20th February 1903. DAIRY PRODUCE ON BRISTOL AND CARDIFF MARKETS. Last week, along with Mr Cuddle, Dairy Commisioner, I paid a visit to Bristol and Caidiff for the purpose of calling upon merchants who have been handling and distributing New Zealand Dairy Produce in. these important centres, and learning from them how the shipments received from the Dominion this season have been satisfying the requirements of tho trade. In both cities tho shortage of butter was noticeable, and consequently faults that in a season when supplies woro sufficient and disposal moderate would bo complained of, were not strongly commented upon. This was generally acknowledged. The demand has recently been eo keen, supplies having been less than requirements, that complaint has not been mado of lots that under ordinary conditions would have been objected to. From the statements made to us, however, there is - little doubt but that this season there been cause for complaint regarding fishiness. Whilo nearly all the merchants deaUng in New Zealand butter report having noticed the

OBJECTIONABLE FLAVOUR in some of the parcels they have handled, and say that fishiness lb quite as pronounced os last season, one or two informed us that they considered it was more prevalent this yea,r. There was at t-ie time of our visit, however, so little New Zealand butter in. the merchants’’ warehouses, that tho complaints made could not bo proved by demonstration. Only in one instance were we shown a box of New Zealand butter that could bo distincly classed as fishy, and that box was one. It was acknowledged. that had been left lying at the docks -without proper care having been taken of it. The bulk of the butter of the same brand, which had been placed carefully in cold air chambers, was found, when sampled, to be in SOUND AND SWEET condition. The facts in the instance referred to went to prove that the fishiness had been occasioned by want of proper care in keeping tho butter. I greatly regret having to report that serious charges were mad© to ns by several merchants concerning the manner in which contracts entered into with them for the sale of New Zealand factory outputs of butter had been broken. There is a strong feeling that owing to the unexpected high price that has been ruling this season for butter shippers have been diverting part of the factory outputs and have _ been either selling a quantity locally in the Dominion or shipping it. Instances were given in which the QUANTITY OF BUTTER

delivered to tlie purchaser her© was not half that guaranteed. Naturally merchants who had mad© contracts for a certain supply had entered into business engagements at tide end on the estimate of the quantity arranged for, and were being held to such bargains as they had made. The merchants however, not having received the stipulated quantity, cannot supply their customers, with the result that while they haro to satisfy their agreements with their local customers they can get no redress from the shippers In the Dominion. Tho complaints, for which there appears to be good ground, ore far too general, and the fact is doing a deal of injury to the good name of the dairy produce trade of New Zealand, OWING TO THE SUSPICION that is cast on the business morality of those engaged in it. No satisfactory reason can be -assigned for the great deficit in the quantity of the butter delivered from that contracted for. It is known that tho season has not been, to unusally dry as to account for it. and no information, has been received that the quantity produced in those factories making butter has shown any serious decline. Naturally, therefore, strong suspicion exists in the minds of merchants, who have purchased ’ forward, that they are not RECEIVING FAIR TREATMENT. The complaints hove been so numerous and serious that, as instructed by you a cablegram has been dispatched to the Prime Minister, informing him of the charges made and asking the the reason for the deficiency in the supply. It is hoped that the reply will bo an explanation satisfactory to the purchasers.

COMPLAINTS ABOUT CHEESE. Unlike the supply of butter, that of New Zealand cheese war considerable, and in every -warehouse wo went to, samples could be seen. New Zealand cheese in the West of England and in the South of Wales, is steadily growing in demand. - It has, however, still to m-.et a largo competition from Canadian, which is dealt in, extensively, by merchants in these districts. New Zealand cheese, while generally handled, is complained of chiefly on account of the immature condition in which it reaches the market here. This objection is more pronounced than any other, and while

ACIDITY AND OFF-FLAVOUES are occasionally to be met with, these faults are slight compared with that of “greenness." Evidently the cheese has not been held long enough in the caring rooms at the factories to allow them to ripon sufficiently before shipment. Consequently, having: been carried cn board ship at a comparatively low temperature, they are not matured when they arrive here. There is no doubt that were cheese now produced in New Zealand treated at the factories ruder proper conditions for a sufficiently long period before shipment, a very great improvment in quality would be effected and their reputation here would, be greatly enhanced. When I was in New Zealand four years ago I referred to this subject in the course of an. address at Palmerston North, at the Dairy Conference held there. X regret that more attention iias not been paid to my remarks, than would appear to have been the case for it is a matter, I consider, of

great importance to all tho©© engaged in cheese production. Attention was directed both at Bristol and at Cardiff to the direct steam service between New Zealand and West of England ports. From close inquiry amongst the merchants handling New Zealand dairy produce there, it would appear that the sci vice is

NOT PROVING SO SATISFACTORY and advantageous as had been anticipated. The chief reason for this is the irregularity of th© service. Complaints are made that dependence cannot be placed on th© dates of arrival, and that therefore it is impossible to enter into any defined contracts for the supply of dairy produce by the line. Several of the merchants informed Mr Cuddi© and myeelf that they now wore making arrangement© for delivery by London instead of by West Coast, much though they regretted doing so, as after giving the service a -fair trial they found things in regard to it were not showing the. improvement they desired. Regularity of arrival of the boats is one of th© principal things that must be aimed at if th© service is to be made successful. REDUCTIONS IN FREIGHT are acceptable and are worth striving for, but I consider that it is of far more importance that econo arrangements should be entered into by shippers with the Shipping Company whereby regularity of arrival of shipments may be assured. Any effort to improve this would be appreciated, I am c©rtam, by the West of England merchants. (sgd) H. C. CAMERON, Produce Commissioner,