NEW ZEALAND CHEESE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22716, 31 October 1935, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND CHEESE

CRITICISM BY MR M'COMBS PREVIOUS STATEMENT EXPLAINED (Per United Press Association) , CHRISTCHURCH, October 30. " It is a pity that Mr Linton did not himself hear the statement he is attacking, and I regret that he saw fit to descend to abuse," Mr T. H. M'Combs, M.P., said to-day when replying to a message from Hastings. "The statement made, as reported in the Hawke's Bay newspapers, was to show that the British consumer does not receive what he desires. I stated that opinions hari been expressed to me by visitors from England that in their opinion New Zealand cheese ' smelt like a manure heap and had a hide like a rhinocerous.' Most certainly I did not state that that was my opinion. I did state that more assistance should be available to dairy factories to cure known defects in their product, and that a survey of the requirements of the different districts in England should be made so that we should be able to supply a flavour that each district prefers. At present New Zealand cheese has" a more or less uriform flavour, which is not that preferred by many districts. "The Labour Party believes the best price can be obtained overseas by seeing to it here that scientific methods turn out the very best product, and that research into the consumers preferences should be undertaken in order to supply each section of the British public with the variety of flavour it prefers. "New Zealand is capable of producing the finest cheese in the Empire, as is shown by the results achieved by New Zealand factories in competition with other dominions at various shows and exhibitions, but every aid must be placed at the disposal of the industry to see to it that the whole of the cheese and other produce exported is up to the_ high standard set by our own best factories."