BUTTER GRADING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2921, 9 March 1910, Page 8

BUTTER GRADING.

SYDNEY, .March 1. The butter factories' delegates consider that butter-grading has been a failure here and in New Zealand, and urge the Federal Government to discontinue the system, and accept a certificate under the Pure Foods Act. . ■ ■

ALLEGED FAILURE OF SYSTEM.

scouted by Experts. The statement contained in a "■'cablegram from Sydney, to the 'effect that the butter factories' delegates, at present meeting there, considered that butter grading had been a failure in Australia and in New. Zealand, was referred by a Times reporter to two local authorities yesterday. Mr J.. B. Mac Ewan was interviewed. "I certainly do not look upon the system here as a failure," he said. "As far as New Zealand is concerned the grading of both cheese and butter has elevated the standard of quality very considerably. It has been an incentive to the factory manager to improve his quality, for if he did not get- first grade quality according to the Government grader his services would in all probability be dispensed with Further, it has improved the business relations between here and-outside countries to which we export dairy produce. These countries have sufficient confidence in our grading system, and will accept a Government grader's certificate as to quality and weights as final between buyer and seller. It has also produced increased competition in the markets, as firms have, been able to' establish connections outside .of New Zealand,. - the fact of the grading being done by the Government making it possible for these firms to employ buyers who are not necessarily qualified .to grade pro due'e. Without a system of Government grading,- these firms would. have to employ experts for buyers, which would, of course, increase their expenditure. The syste-n of grading in Australia is not as complete as it is here.' Finally, I am quite. satisfied that the system of Government grading in operation here has greatly improved the quality of our cheese and butter, and has had the effect of bringing all factories under a more uniform working standard." Mr J. R. Scott was also interviewed, and his remarks were brief and .very much to the point. • " I am very sorry for the butter industry in New South Wales," he said, "if. they are hot going to adopt a proper grading system. As>a matter of fact, there ha 6 never been a proper grading system in operation in any part of Australia, excepting, possibly,, in Queensland. And the advance in the quality of Queensland butter is most, marked.. It. took all the prizes, at the Royal Australian show. The quality has immensely improved under Government grading. The system, such as it is, may have been a failure, in Australia, but it has been an unqualified success in New Zealand,, as is instanced by the fact that our butter prices are always 4s above the Australian prices.. The people in Australia who have resisted grading are not those connected with the factories, but a ring of merchants, who do not want an independent judge between themselves and the factories from whom they buy."