CHANGE OVER TO BUTTER

Southland Times, Issue 25796, 6 October 1945, Page 8

CHANGE OVER TO BUTTER

CHEESE FACTORIES IN SOUTHLAND The change from cheese to butter by some dairy factories in Southland was the subject of comment at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Farmers’ Dairy Federation, Limited, in Invercargill yesterday. It was pointed out that the change over was not peculiar to Southland; it was no more peculiar to Southland than to other parts of New Zealand.

“I would take this opportunity to make an observation about the impression held in some quarters that the federation butter factory is a hostile organization to Southland cheese factories,” said the chairman, Mr John Fisher. “Nothing could be further from the truth; each is the complement of the other and each is essential to the well-being of Southland. The butter factory fills an important place in the economy of the province and caters for many hundreds of suppliers who otherwise could not convert their produce into, cash. In an area where there are about 50 cheese factories to one butter factory, their interest in transport arrangements must at times require delicate handling.

SACRIFICE OF COMPANY “In the various change over of suppliers to comply with Government regulations no dairy factory in the province has had to sacrifice its interests comparable with the federation. Onethird of the total increase in cheese production during the drive for more cheese in Southland arose through the diversion of butterfat from our own factory, and this has had a disturbing effect on the internal working of the company. “It has materially assisted in prolonging the years of usefulness of small cheese factories. Unfortunately it has not finally averted the closing of several small factories,” he added. “With the gradual return to normal trading conditions we believe that both sides of the industry, butter and cheese, will prove of great value in adding to the prosperity of tire province.”

The chairman’s remarks were endorsed by Mr John Dunlop.