DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1924, Page 5

DAIRY INDUSTRY.

BUTTER AND CHEESE GRADES RAISING MINIMUM STANDARD. NEW ERA IN CONTROL SCHEME. It is anticipated that a pronouncement to be made shortly will indicate that the standard of firat-claaa butter and cheeM ia New Zealand is to be raised from 88 to 90 j points, and that, commencing from November 1, the taking over of the shipping eontract will mark a new era in the dairy export control scheme. The Daipr Export Control Board, set up at the beginning of the ye»r by the legislation of last season, has begun to achieve practical results that are officially considered to have dissipated any doubts that may have existed m to th« efficacy of the scheme of control, end to have improved the dairy farmer*’ outlook, from the paint of view of th« profitable marketing of butter and cheese on the British market. The most important of the board’a considerations during the nine month* of it* existence has had to do with the standard of butter and cheese. The matter has also been under consideration by the Department of Agriculture and the dairy companies throughout the Dominion. The quality of New Zealand butter was not fully maintained during the past seasog by I most of the factories. Climatic considerations were unfavourable; as high temperaI ture fac ilia ted the development of unjerir- ! able flavours. Reports have been received, : commenting on some butter evidencing the ; flavour of the sgent used in the partial neutralising, of acidity in the cream. The board has given full support to a proposal to raise the minimum points for first-grade butter and effeese from 88 to 90 points, and this will quite possibly be put into operation. TAKING OVER SHIPPING CONTRACT. The shipping contract that wan in existence when the board was elected terminates on October 31, From that date onwards the board will handle the shipping contract, and, for the first time in the history of the dairy export industry, a central body will have authority to negotiate and act on behalf of it. The board has appointed a thoroughly-qualified refrigerating engineer, with a knowledge of shipping dairy produce, who will, on behalf of the board, inspect all ships' holds and refrigerating systems, with a view to improving loading and transport conditions where necessary. The Ovsfmm Delegation has been negotiating with the underwriters in London, and already considerable reductions in rates have taken place, amounting to a sum sufficient to pay the expenses of the board for many years. Compulsory cream grading is now being seriously considered. One of the causes responsible for the fact that the quality of the raw material has not been improving is the competition among dairy companies, which has resulted in a tendency to carry ! cream over long distances, and reduce the number of deliveries weekly. It b considered likely that some form of compulsory cream grading will be instituted in the near future. ALTERATION IN BRANDING Branding is another matter that has | been receiving attention, as between the Department of Agriculture and the board. Nothing has yet been finalised, but an alI rotation proposed by the department, in : connection with whey butter has been cani sidered and supported bv the board, os being of value in protecting the good name of the bext creamery butter. In the mat- ' tex of the manufacture of butter from ! whey cream, the department holds > there ia room for much improvement. ' There is, it considers, evidence of too little core being given to the cream between the time of separation and manufacture. A number of dairy companies have forwarded for export whey butter of good quality, thug emphaaWng the fact that this is a profitable adjunct to the industry. The board has been negotiating for improved facilities and reduced freights for dairy produce on the railways. The Minister for Railways has announced that he proposes reductions in railway freighte, aggregating £200,060 for the cooiing year. Benzine and wool have been stipulated by Mr. Coates as items on the railway tariff that are to lienefit. Dairy produce has not been specifically mentioned, hut farmers, as well as the board, are anxiously awaiting a public, pronouncement, as to the relative measure of the reductions in freight on the Dominion railways.