GOVERNMENT GRADING Of BUTTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 14

GOVERNMENT GRADING Of BUTTER.

We have received copies of the following lttters which ha^e been forwarded to the Dairy Commissioner 1)y Mr Henry Gray, rt presentative in the colony for Messre Pearton and Rutter (Limited) : — The Dairy Commissioner, Wellington. Dear Sir, — We have pleasure to send you copy of further correspondence received from our head offlce by last mail, under ciate October 19. Our Mr .Tames P«>arsc'i, v:ho is chairman of $k,e butter section, of tho Man-

Chester Wholesale Produce Association, i« moving the Home Government to maize it an offence to remove Government grade marks and brands indicating the country of origin. Commenting on criticisms which have appeared in the Now Zealand press from time to time upon the system of Government grading, Mr James Pearson writes as follows: — "The gentlemen who discredit the name of colonial and other butters by removing Government mark's, and thereby endeavouring to obtain a higher price than the goods are intrinsically worth, will not in future be able safely to do this. The Manchester Wholesale Produce Association is of opiniou that a great injury is done to the trade by this kind of thing, and is determined that our Manchester market, at any rate, shall retain that reputation for honest and straightforward dealing which has characterised it in the past. It is the largest and most important butler market in the north of England, controlling a butter trade of not less than £10,000,000 annually; and for our part we are desirous that New Zealand butter, which ha 3 proved so eminently suitable for this district, shall take and retain a leading position here. As we have- been for the last few years the principal firm engaged in this business in the Manchester district, we claim to have intimate knowledge of the matters of which we write, and we are looking forward to the day when shipping arrangements shall be completed, which will enable a direct steam communication to be established -between the colony and Manchester by means of the Skip Canal. " We are not in favour of the standard 'being placed,at an impracticable point,"and we think 88 quite high enough, as we are always willing to pay it premium for butter which is uniformly, of high grade, and in other ways to co-operate with those who evince a. desire to raise the standard of their quality." We are quite willing that publicity should be' given to the nbove remarks if you think any good purpose can be served by doing so.— i'ours, etc., Pearson and Rutter, Ltd. (Per Henry Gray). New Plymouth, -November 15, 1899. The Dairy Commissioner, Wellington. . Dear Sir, —Wo think it will interest you to read extracts from our principal's letter, dated Manchester, October G, writing on the subject of Government grading, as carried out in New Zealand. Wo -read with much interest as follows : — •• With reference to forward selling, this i 9 becoming very general, and it is evident to us that, as wo expected, forward selling v/ill become more and more the rule. In this respect your system of Government grading in New Zealand is of the greatest assistance, and in, the long lun will be found to be a real benefit to the producers. With regard to 'a statements, ■ which have appeared in your local press, the man who removes Government brands from packages in order to sell them for more money is doing someone an injustice, either the buyer or the New Zealand Government Grading department. " It is not our experience that- the second grade is sometimes equal to the first, as stated. On the contrary, in many cases, as it is in the caso of , factory, the value is fully Id per lb less than that of firsts; and we will not conBpnt to remove Government brands in ordei to obtain a higher price than the grading warrants. . " We wish to state that, on the whole, our experience of the New Zealand Government grading is highly satisfactory, and reflects gre&t credit on the experts engaged therein. And, further, we consider that the system is an excellent safeguard, and will in the long run prove of the greatest benefit to the producers. — iours faithfully, _ . '• Pearson and Rutter (Limited).