The Dairy Industry.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7702, 3 January 1905, Page 4

The Dairy Industry.

A CHAT WITH MR. J. A. KIKSELLA.

At an interview with Mr Kinsella Dairy Commissioner, on Monday, {

representative .of the Daily Newgleaned some interesting informa I Hon with regard to the dairv pro duce exhibited at the exhibition B the way, Mr Kinsella contends i should lie called an exposition, for he says, with characteristic tcrsx ness, "it is an exposition for thi country, and a great one too." In answer to a question, Mr Kin sella said that the exhibits both o butter and cheese were a. credit ti the colony. The make and get-ii] and the flavour of both product were such as the managers and di rectors of the competing factorie might well be proud of. It was i very delicate task for a judge ti discern between the various exhibit: —of butter especially—for they scoret very closely on points.

Asked how he accounted for this Mr Kinsclla claimed that it was owing- largely to the improvement which had taken place during the past few years in the way of imparting instruction by the Government inspectors ; by the introduction of the starter or culture system in the uniform ripening 'of cream at each factory ; by the more careful attention of each factory manager ; |,y the. careful grading by Government officers, and bv the advice offered at the grad ing^igf cs^bh' the securinK of a, WgJ^ tamlarfl ; Mr Kinsclla "highly-'praised the factory managers in this colony for -ulo excellent manner in which they get up their butter. He added : "I have travelled nil round the world, including Denmark, and I make the statement without fear of contradiction that New Zealand ships to England a package which would not be outclassed by any/ country in the world."

"So far as timber is concerned," continued Mr Kinsella, " our white pine is one of the finest for the manufacture of a clean and odourless butter box." lie further said that in most other countries producers have to splice and dovetail their boxes by having three pieces of timber on one side or end of the box. We in New Zealand make the (boxes of one piece, and these arc thorough); and securely nailed. In many places the boxes arc purafin lined, this proventing the butter becoming contaminated by any pine or gum odour. "The butter," said Mr Kinsella, "is packed in a very sound condition, and the paper used in lining the boxes is as good as, or probably better quality, than any I have seen imported into Great Britain." So far as the exhibits were concerned, Mr Kinsella expressed entile satisfaction with the whole showing. Some of the factory managers, in his opinion, had used too much starter, and had therefore over-ripened the cream in the manufacture. Others had endeavoured to make a sweet cream batter which would capture a prize at a show—a procedure not in accord with the idea he had been recommending For several years when he was Formerly in charge of the dairying division of the Agricultural Department.

The reporter : "What are your views concerning exhibiting at such shows, and how should it be-done'" Mr Kinsella : "My idea is that the butter should be selected in the same manner as it is in Ireland, and in various other countries For large agricultural shows as I have recommended and have seen tried at I'almerston North show." lirieflv put the method is this : One oi' two boxes are selected from the average make of the Factory, as the butter comes to the freezing work's for grading and shipment to Great Britain. This is done without the knowledge oF the manager, who, however is invited to attend during the grading oF that particular Jot. A special mark is placed on each shipment from the different Factories, and a record taken of the same. The butter is placed in a freezing chamber lor a like period to that of the voyage to Great ISrilnin ; it is then taken out and defrosted for about live days and forwarded to the showwhere it is to be exhibited. Speaking of the- cheese, Mr Kinsella said it was a very small exhibit, but expressed delight at the general quality. He regretted that more cheese makers in the colony did not lake advantage oF such an excellent opportunity oF exhibiting their produce at what he characterised as "a marvellous show for such a small town." lie gave great praise to the factory which captured lirst award, saying that he could hardly find a Fault with the cheese turned out by that particular Factory, and the second prize-taker was not very far behind. One or two of the managers, he was sorry to say, had undertaken to show cheeses which were not properly manufactured, dressed or shipi>esl, and which contained u large quantity of mould. These were not creditable to the managers.

The IJairy Commissioner then went on to explain the action he had taken to get the exhibits properly staged and securely screened from the public. If any person wished to closely inspect the butter and cheese lie coukl do so at the Moturoa freezing, works, whither they had been removed. This privilege was granted the public, the pressman learned, through the courtesy of ilr Kinselia and the manager of the freezing works.

Mr Kinselia spoke rather strongly on the action of a certain section of the public, who persist in picking with their pocket knives and scooping with their fingers butter belonging to private individuals. If it was considered advisable, a small portion of each exhibit could bo placed on a plate outside the screen which enclosed the bulk.

After further conversation on various matters .this interviewer with-