NEW ZEALAND CHEESE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3115, 26 November 1913, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND CHEESE.

EXHIBITION IN TOOLEY STREET. SOME EXPERT CRITICISMS. (Faou Odb Own Correspondent.) LONDON, October 10. Dunedin cheese in particular and New Zealand cheese in general received a splendid advertisement this week by reason of an exhibition in Tooley street, the centre of the Colonial dairy produce market in London. Last year the cheese from the dominion was not up to the standard of previous years, witli the result that trade in this article received a great setback. The High Commissmer came to the rescue, however, and arranged the present exhibition, which has given New Zealand cheese a much-needed advertisement among the produce dealers. The cheese in question comes from the following Otago and Southland factories, and won tho prizes at the last Dunedin Show : Edenaaie, Brydono, Parkvale, Omimi, Stirling, Waikouaiti, and Wright’s Bush. During, the week the cheese has been sampled by practically all the Tooley Street dealers, and a number of big wholesale and retail provision merchants. On Wednesday afternoon the High Commissioner attended, and was received by a large and representative gathering of the trade. Without wasting time Mr Mackenzie appealed for criticism, and some pertinent remarks were made by way of response. It may be stated that this Dunedin cheese was highly praised, and if all cheese from New Zealand came up to the same quality it would command a ready sale on tho Home market. Mr S. Lowe (of Messrs Wm. Weddell and Co.) saw no reason why New Zealand cheese, as represented by that exhibition, should noU hold its own with Canadian. He suggested that more sheds should be erected at the ports of shipment in New Zealand, and more care taken of the article after manufacture. He promised to support the High Commissioner in popularising New Zealand cheese. Mr Rowson (Messrs Rowson and Hodgson) pointed out that the growth of the New Zealand cheese trade had been greater than anybody had ever anticipated, and was still capable of development. He considered the present cheese a splendid exhibit. It was evident that when placed in the Dunedin Show the cheese was older and more matured than the majority of cheeses shipped to England. This lot, in fact, had been really good from the start. So far as “ marketing ” was concerned, he preferred to offer no suggestions to the New Zealander. Mr Davidson (Messi’s J. and J. Lonsdale) said he understood that although the railway and transport facilities, in New Zealand were not what they might be, the present cheese had kept well and carried well. They . had been kept much longer than any New Zealand cheeses he had previously seen. Mr Oakey (Messrs Spear Brothers and Clarke), of Bristol, remarked that the cheese made a very fine collection, and was a credit to New Zealand. With this opinion Mr Goodman (Messrs A. Clements and Son) concurred. Mr C. F. Parkington observed that the quality, condition, and make were of the best that he had ever seen from New Zealand. No doubt tho cheese had been selected for the purpose, as they were prize cheeses in Dunedin. They had arrived in very good condition. In his opinion a comparison should be made between the present cheese and that which came last year. During the early part of last season they had cheese from New Zealand which was not a credit to the dominion. To-day they had evidence of what could be done. The cheese was matured, of good flavour, fat, and ready for sale—just what they wanted on this side. He was sure that if the New Zealand makers would take the present as a standard they would get their reward in a better price of 2s per cwt. Mr Raith {lpswich) remarked that in the country New Zealand trade had gone. The shipments last year killed it. If the maker could not produce a good article it was absolutely useless sending over inferior cheese. It was no use complaining about steamships and railways. They must complain of the people who made the cheese. Mr Richens (Messrs J. Richens) said the present cheese would always find a ready sale. That which came last year was so bad that it stopped their continuing with the trade. SPEECH BY MR MACKENZIE. The High Commissioner then made a short speech. In explanation of the lowering of quality last year, he said that to some extent it could be attributed to the fact that many of the factories had changed their plant from butter-making to cheese-making plant, and that the conditions had not been entirely perfected. He did not intend to close hie eyes to the fact that some of the older factories that had hitherto enjoyed a high reputation had allowed their cheese to fall in quality. He was sure that the head of the department concerned, Mr Cuddle, and his officers had done all in their power to keep the makers and suppliers up to tho necessary standard, and* in his reports to New Zealand ho had not spared those factories whoso action had resulted in injuring the hitherto well-established reputation of New Zealand’s produce in the English market. Mr Mackenzie then gave a brief history of the industry in New Zealand. In the “ eighties,” he said, the dairy industry was on a most unsatisfactory footing. Frequently the farmers’ produce could not be sold. and. if sold, butter often did not realise more than 4d to 5d per lb ; the price of cheese varied, and was as a rule more easily disposed of. Possibly he had the honour of sending the first shipment of cheese out of New Zealand—that was during the time of the first, Zulu war; and owing to ignorance of tho

methods of packing, most of the cheese was unfit for sale on arrival at the Cape. Mr Mackenzie then dealt with the conditions under which New Zealand dairy produce was manufactured, and claimed that they were acknowledged to bo the brightest and healthiest in the world. Their policy was not to allow the factories’ output or the dominion’s reputation to be damaged by reason of a dairyman or farmer not keeping up to the required standard. The produce was graded by the Government graders, and the butter and cheese was sold on a New Zealand Government grading certificate, from which there was no appeal. As far as it was humanly possible all was done to secure good health in tho stock, and cleanliness In manufacture, resulting in a highgrade quality. In conclusion Mr Mackenzie referred to the future of the industry, and said : ‘‘As it affects New Zealand, there can be no doubt that wo can expand cur operations almost indefinitely, and as the years roll on improvements will still, where possible, be effected. As to the prospect ot prices, provided the high quality of the article is maintained, there need be no fear for the future. I find from statistics that the imports of butter into this country last year fell by about 500,000 sterling. The imports were valued at £24,600,000 in 1911, and £24,300,000 last year. Strange to say, that difference was just the value of the butter New Zealand sent to Vancouver, which is a meet promising market. Speaking of Vancouver brings one to Canada, and although Canada is increasing in the total her manufactured article, her own people consume more in proportion to the increase. As I recently read, it pays bettor to grow wheat in Canada than to run dairy factories. It may be argued that wheat will be grown in increasing quantities. Then there is the reduction in the duty on cheese and butter going into the United States. 1 think I am right in saying that the reduction on butter is from 6 to 3 cents, per pound. This will induce an increased output from Canada for the United States, and will undoubtedly open wider for our country tho doors of markets. Of course, we must not be blind to the fact that we have rivals in the field. Margarine is one of them, and it is well tc* acknowledge that margarine is a foodstuff that has ome ro stay.. But while those of us who are interested in the dairy industry recognise that we feel that both in the interests of the consumer and the producer of butter, margarine should not be used as butter—that is to say, the grocer should not sell margarine as butter, nor should the hotel or lodging-house keeper give margarine to their customers as butter. A glance at the prosecutions which have recently been instituted show that this is done to a considerable extent, and it must be very profitable, inasmuch as you see that the the same persons have been fined upon two or more occasions. We are about to hold a conference in connection with this matter. “Butter-blending is an industry which has come to stay and is legitimate. New Zealand is not suffering much cither from the margarine or the butter-blending busi-

ness, because our output being first-class the margarine does not displace it, and ‘t is bought up at a good price to season up second-class butters. I am in hope that with the greater development of our industry our farmers may be able to arrange for continuous supplies all the year round, and if that be done, then we shall be able to dispose of the output here under its true designation, and therefore enjoy an increased reputation in consequence. ” But so long as we only send cur butter here during certain months of the year, I recognise that it is impossible for dealers to keep their customers all the year round if they change the brand or standard if the butter, and therefore this blending has had to be adopted to a certain extent to provide an article to suit the- tastes of the various customers whom the dealers supply during the whole year.” Mr Mackenzie foretold that the next exhibition would be one of New Zealand fruit.