MR. HAWKEN QUESTIONED

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1928, Page 12

MR. HAWKEN QUESTIONED

REPLIES GIVEN AT CARDIFF. Several questions were put to the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. O. J. Hawken, at Cardiff on Wednesday night by Mr. H. J. Marchant. The questions with their answers are: In view of the overwhelming importance of the dairy industry io New Zealand and the disastrous .losses that would follow an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, can the Minister assure us that the present restrictions on the importation of livestock will be increased rather than relaxed? —Precautions in New Zealand were stricter than in any country in the world, replied the Minister. Packing was strictly supervised. There was no danger of the disease in New Zealand. Ninety-eight per cent, of affected cattle recovered. How does the Minister view the proposal to extend the Government power lines through Taranaki to supply current in competition with the Taranaki board when the latter is in desperate need of increasing its area of supply?— It was not the Government’s policy to so compete and there was no fear of such action. It was not proposed to sell electricity but to link up and assist. Is there no possibility of the Government taking over the local generating plant? —The Government was not looking to do that. (Laughter). In view of the higher prices obtained for Canadian and Cheddar cheese, which have a minimum fat requirement of 45 per cent, while New Zealand has a minimum fat requirement of 50 per cent, for export cheese, would the Minister state: Firstly, whether- he is in sympathy with the proposal to have the standard amended to put us on the same footing as our competitors, and, secondly, how he views the question of standardisation which in reality is part-skimming of milk for cheese-making?—Our minimum was 50 per cent, but no notice was taken as long as the cheese was genuine, said Mr. Hawken. Many cheeses left New Zealand with less than the stipulated amount of fat and there was nothing to stop genuine cheeses going out, but it could not be branded whole milk cheese. He was not against standardisation if it were found suitable.