DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORTS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10760, 6 May 1911, Page 1

DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORTS.

(Pep. Press Association.) Wellington, May 5. _ The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) to-dav received a deputation from the 'National'Dairy Association regarding the appointment of- a Government expert in London/to watch: the interests of New. Zealand butter, and cheese at ; the Home end J Mr D. Cud•die (chief dairy commissioner) attended on behalf of the dairy division. I Mr A. M'Farlane, president of the ! Association, and chairman of the Bal- ! lance Dairy Company, said that'at a. meeting of the Association las.t month, : owing to numerous complaints s received ;about the; condition of New Zealand but)ter, the direqtors had recognised that the time had'arrived when an unbiassed ; man should be sent Home as an expert, and this deputation liad been appointed to urge the minister to make such an appointment, As- the Minister was aware, they had gone in for-pasteurisa-tion, expecting by this means to get nearer the prices realised by the Danish article. However,, they were further away from their ideal.

Hon. Mr Mackenzie: You are "within 2s of it.

Mr M'Farlane: Yes, at the present time. They were satisfied with the grading, which ran from 93 to "94 points, but when their agents complained on: account of the butter being "fishy" they wanted unbiassed' advice to show them where the butter had gone off. Then' the Anglo-Continental Produce Company (Ltd.), of 36 Tooley street, London, was acting against the interests of New Zealand butter. He quoted from the Company's circulars, "ill which they said (February 17,. 1911): "The quality of New Zealand butter in each steamer is worse than the previous one, and buyers are turning their attention to the best brands of "Victorian, which are undoubtedly the finest butter coming from the colonies this year, possibly owing to the climatic conditions prevailing." This, 'continued Mr M'Farlane, was doing harm" to - our butter. Other circulars issued by the same firm were to a similar effect. He quoted from a letter received from a dairy company' that had been pasteurising for the last two years under the best conditions, pointing out that in view of the great c-are taken in manufacturing it was difficult to understand why the butter was 'not Of better - quality on arrival at Home. Yet this butter in New 'Zealand was graded at 95. If that were so the butter'wns travelling under had conditions. What they wanted to know was how they could save that 2s. An unbiassed expert at the Home end would be a great advantage to them.

Hon. Mr Mackenzie: What is your man doing when at Home? Mr M'Farlane: He sends us certain reports, but he is not an expert. It is only the commercial end he is looking after.

Mi- W. Fisher, a member of the Association's executive, and chairman of the Taratahi Dairy Factory, brought under the notice of the Minister the grading of New Zealand cheese. Were their graders, lie asked, doing their work on the right line.s:' Indifferent reports here became first-class reports at the other end. and vice versa. The question was were their people at Home giving them fair and accurate reports, or were they biassed ■" Some of the cheese managers claimed that the graders here did not grade on the right lines, and they were perplexed as to whether they should make moister or drier cheese.

The lion- Mr Mackenzie replied that his Department had given a good deal of attention to the general question of appointing a man in London, and about the middle of last mouth they had practically decided to endeavor to secure an expert for this pin-pose. Of course, "the appointment would have to <£et the approval of Cabinet. He considered that there was a good deal in what the deputation had said. - They wanted a qualified man who was absolutely independent of. all employers' or sellers' interests, and lie could undoubtedly advise them us to tlie'actual condition of the output when-it arrived in London. As to its subsequent'development, that was another matter. An expert could report to thein in what way the product had gone off, and tell them if it was "off-' when landed. Of course, the Government had been doing a great deal during the last 12 months to advance the industry, and'this meant a good deal of monbv.. Last year the dairy industry directly cost the Government £II,OOO. In connection with pasteurisation, the producers had given tliem a good deal of assistance. This season s output was the highest class of butter ever sent awiiy from New Zealand. The question raised regarding cheese was one for experts, and well worthy of inquiry, in order to strike tlie right lines. }fovrovor, it was. pleasing to know that our cheese was occupying its present high position in the Loudon market. Regarding' the circulars issued; by the Anglo-Continental Company, he had been, in' communication with the .High Commissioner. He (Mr Mackenzie) knew exactly what the situation was, and they w-ere leaving the matter in the Commissioner's hands to take such action as lie deemed fit. The point had been raised : as to whether the statements made in the circular constituted libel or not. They had liad that- sort of thing in connection with the frozen •meat'trade,' a member of the Home Parliament'rising and' declaring that the •meat would give cancer .to thei people. He (Mr Mackenzie) was on :but it was with the utmost difficulty that he could get the -London papers Ito take it up, and it was only through !his personal acquaintance with the edi-of-the Standard that he could get a refutation published. As he had said, 'it was'his intention to recommend tlie .Government to select the best man they .could find to take tip this work. ' Mr M'Farlane suggested that it would be a good thing if a . date stamp was put on the butter-boxes, so,-that the .expert could see- if the fault aiose in ■the butter before shipment.