BUTTER SUPPLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24685, 14 August 1941, Page 9

BUTTER SUPPLY

VARIATION IN QUALITY UNITED AND TEMPORARY EXPLANATION BY MINISTER (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. “Although at present it is undoubtedly true that the quality of the butter being placed on the local market is more uneven than during the remainder of the year, the statement that much of it is not fit to give a dog is an absurd exaggeration of the position," said the Minister of Agriculture, Mr J. G. Barclay, commenting to-day on -the criticism of the quality of butter now being retailed. “It must be realised.’’ the Minister said, “that at the present time there is not sufficient quantity of first grade freshly-made butter available to supply the local market. The balance has to be made up from withdrawals from the export freezer stock. It has been found over a period of years that certain quantities of butter withdrawn from the freezer at this time of the season and graded as first or finest .grade reveal a tendency to deteriorate slightly after patting. This tendency is by no means peculiar to this year, but ‘is a problem which has faced our agricultural scientists for a considerable time, and they are making every effort to overcome the difficulty." The position was, the Minister added, that the New'Zealand market was supplied duriiig the present months with the maximum quantity of best freshly-made butter available, supplemented by the best butter available from the export stocks. Any variation in the quality of the butter now being placed on the local market was strictly of a limited and "temporary nature, and in the main the Dominion market was supplied with the best quality butter produced by the industry. Every care was taken by the Internal Marketing Division to ensure that all the factors within its control were carefully watched to maintain the highest possible standard.