DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13093, 5 June 1913, Page 8

DAIRY INDUSTRY.

COMPLAINTS AS TO QUALITY OF CHEESE. SERIOUS ALLEGATION. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, last night. The annual meeting of the South Island Dairy Association was opened today, Mr John Gray presiding. T l ieve were 58 delegates present. In moving the adoption of the annual report, tho chairman said the expectation of good markets had not been realised. At present the industry, with the exception of shipping contracts, was at sixes and sevens. He was certain that members would have to pull together more with the North Island. The following directors wei'e elected : Messrs John Barnett (Canterbury) and T. W; Foster (Southland); Mr J. iloss Hunter (Edendale) was elected chairman". Mr Sawcrs read a paper 911 the deTivery of faulty milk to dairy factories, its - partial prevention, and sure cure. He said a large proportion of the milk delivered at factories was not in a sound condition. , This was mainly due to apathy and' the introduction of milking machines. He believed that not 20 per cent, of tho milking machines in Otago and Southland were properly cleaned and sterilised, ahd far too big a percentage were kept in a deplorable state. The tubing was mostly of inferior" quality. He strongly recommended them to ask A for an amendment of tho Act, providing that milking plants be erected to the satisfaction of the Department, and until the Department issued a certificate the machines should not be used for milking. The certificate of cleanliness and competency should be held by tho farmer only so long as the machine and general accommodation were satisfactory to the Department officers, half the cost -of the -work 'to be borne by tho factories and half by the Government. If the manager of" a. factory refused milk the owner should have the option of having it separated and the butter-fat paid for at the rate of at least 2d per lb less than "that paid in the case of milk used for cheese-making, without participation in bonus. ■' The address led to considerable discussion, several delegates refuting the statement that 80 per cent, of the machines were in an unsatisfactory condition. Mr Middleton said the cause of cheese not selling well in London was that selling here was hopelessly mixed in the spring,! Mr Cuddie said Mr Sawers had made some good suggestions. He said there were ample proofs that complaints against some New Zealand cheese last season were justified. The industry was going ahead so rapidly that it was unlikely to maintain the high standard of a few years ago. Experienced managers, would say it was more difficult now to make first-class cheese than it was before the machineis were so common. Three hundred-machines had been examined : by the Department in two months, and only 23' per cent. ' w.erei .clean;'' '''Something must be done' by j 'dairy' '"farmers through their managers. Jt would pay the Association to\ have : d, cool store at the Bluff as soon' as' posslohV '•■;..•...._ j •■' It was decided that the executive of the Association, in conjunction with tho' "dairy depajsment and factory managers,! should ' draw up regulations for the ' re- J ceifit of or rejection of milk, and for j such other matters as may bo needful to improve the quality of cheese. 1 /It was also decided to take steps to work in^ conjunction with the North Island Association for improvement in regard to the disposal of dairy produce in London by combined action if possible. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. In an interview at Auckland yesterday, the Hon. Jas. Allen, Minister forj Finance, expressed regret that some of: the cheese from New Zealand was not t arriving in first-class condition in Lon- ' don, and that there were also complaints' about the quality of New Zealand butter, j These facts have been well known to i those engaged in the dairy produce ex- 1 port trade, but are perhaps not generally j known. 1 A reporter who made some inquiries' locally to-day was informed that com- ■ plaints regarding the shipments of New ; Zealand cheese had been frequont. As , a matter of fact soma of tvie cheese ex- ' ported did not grade , as first-class when' shipped! It was,, in tho opinion of the gentleman interviewed, a great mistake : •for second-class cheese to be exported. New Zealand cheese had obtained a _,ood reputation on the London market, andj it was highly important that that reputation should be maintained. The matter j Could be remedied, for to some' extent] jt was due to faults in manufacture, j The firs"t lot shipped might be second grade, but there was time to 1 remedy matters before more was shipped. The' changeable weather experienced and the; drought in the North Island were largely • responsible for the inferior quality of the cheese exported,' and faulty manufacture bad also something to do with' ifc As to the New Zealand butter sent' Home, complaints were not so serious. 1 and some of the North Island butter had been vpry favorably commented on. 1