INSPECTION OF BUTTER FOR EXPORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8793, 1 May 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

INSPECTION OF BUTTER FOR EXPORT.

TO THE KDITOIt. Sin,—ln your sub-leader of to-day you commented very favourably and offered some good suggestions on lh<) results of the conference of dairy factory representatives at the exhibition, but as to the question of the inspection of butter by a Government appointee, you think there are not only difficulties but doubts of its benefits, but mention none of either.

Now, if you will allow ins as the one who proposed it at Unit {meeting, I will mention some very good reasons why it should be done, nnd before doing so, let me ju3t say that I proposed nothing now. It Ins been done many yeare ago with the best of results in Ireland, Denmark, Holland, Canada, the United Slates, and, I was toltl to-day, also in Victoria, the re:ult beiiiEt. as you will doubtless have seen, that Victorian butter has realised batti'r prices than that of New Z»a'and in the Homa market this season (ours indeed being classified as grease only). Well, the first reason is that the individual or factory .having butterto ship, as anile, must do so through come linn who have representatives at Home to look after consignments, and sell such. When shipping this thsy not only impress on the minds of the firm here that it is all first class, but that they must get advances cm the shipment to enable them to pay for their milk until returns oorao. Now, I don't like to overstate the case, but considering the results so far of any shipments seDb from New Zealand, tho replvofany business man.'would foa most likely as follows:—"My friend, we are most anxious to do business with and for you, but the fact is that so far any sent here has been a disappointment to all concerned. Now you say this lot is iirst class, but how can I or anyone else tell that? It nmy be grease, or, in fact., it may be only pig's feet pickled. However, to help you as far as I can, I will make advances ou it as for grease. Can't do better for you, my friend. Indeed, many firms would refuse to advance you anything ou it."—" Wlmt's to bo done? I must pay for milk or shut shop."—" Oh! we will make advances on the plant, say, for you ; won't see you 6tuck, friend."

1 s.vy this shipment of 300 or more firkins of butter hns arrived v.t Home in as line order as it left here, and assume that it is really lirstclass butter put into tho hands of a good salesman to dispose of, but who possibly may bo no judge of its merits, always having the article with a naras given to it. He places it before his customers, the first of whom asks whe-e tlie firat-class butter is. The 300 kegs ara pointed out to him. " What." »ays lira, " hnw do you know that they contain butter? Itmay be 'pigs feet' <ir

' musk rat skins'for all that we can tell from the kegs. Surely you don't expect me toopenandexamitie and ilis buyer finds half of if, auol] as should be if Inspected and branded rank first class, tho rest only second and third cla«s. offers (.he seller for the lot prices such as a third class article is worth. Result: A long argumuit, can't agree, the S'ller must try further. Aunthc-r culls to find that this lot of butter lias been overturned by someone else, which dmi'i, improve the looks of Mm butter or pr.ckagca. but concludes that a fourth of thfl lot might bo first class, the balance second and third. Hesult: They don't agree as to price. The same routine may bo gone through with half a dozon rmstoniors, with'the result that not only ia the butter spoiled in quility, rii.p.G.ir.ince, unJ that of the packago also, and probably he is glad to get the lot wltiinatoly off his hands at the price of a third class article; wberens had Hint lot of butter bum Inspected :md branded with dnto and year on the casks, the lirst caller would have doted ftr the lot in 10 minutes after seeing that the condition of all tho packages was as good a? when the inspector passed Hum. These two reasor.s are good ours, that I know imv business man will Gonlirm. Moio I can give equally good, but La\ that in doing co too much of your i-pace will be required. But let mn just Bay | that an inspector appointed, as yon suggest, by tho united companies would never do: he would be suspected as an interested party, you can understand. I The Inspector should be lika Crcsar's wife ; hence the j reason for asking the Government to appoint on?.— j AprU23. W. D. Suthhhland.

—Boor bottled in 1708 by an English firm was recently opened in a London restaurant and pronounced sound and hearty