POOR QUALITY OF CHEESE

Taranaki Daily News, 25 June 1931, Page 11

POOR QUALITY OF CHEESE

NEED FOR DRASTIC ACTION MINISTER’S APPEAL TO FARMERS DEPENDENCE ON WORLD MARKETS New Zealand’s dependence on the world's markets for the disposal of its dairy produce, and the disastrous effect of attempting to sell articles of interior quality such as the New Zealand cheese of the past year or two were the principal topics dealt with ’by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. A. J. Murdoch) in opening the National Dairy Conference at New Plymouth yesterday. Mr. Murdoch gave figures illustrating tho preponderance of second grade cheese when it was graded on arrival in Britain, and appealed to the farming community to “rebuild the "broken Bridge” 'by concentrating upon cleaner and purer milk and cream. He also urged factory managers and all others connected with the dairy industry to strive in every way for higher quality. Largely as the outcome of the general world depression low prices were ruling for New Zealand produce, said Mr. Murdoch, and a depression was being felt throughout the Dominion, in which the farming community was participating. Mr. Hoover’s suggestion to suspend for one year the international war debt ■ payments should be of immense value in relieving the present serious economic position, and it might I that the. war debts might soon be wiped out altogether. Of New Zealand’s total production of butter and cheese only 20 per cent, of butter and 4 per cent, of cheese was consumed in the Dominion, and the remainder had to be sold in the markets of the rest of the ■- world.. A disturbing factor was the dumping on the British market of Russian butter at a low price. As a matter of fact Russian exports of butter to Britain dropped from 18,600 tons in 1927-28, to 18,108 tons in 1928-29 and to 10,631 tons in 1929-30, but recently it seemed a determined effort was being made to flood the British market, and there was a fear that exportations to Britain from Russia might increase. If this occurred and the butter was put on-the market at a low price the position would be serious for Now Zealand. The Russian competition could be countered in only one way—by a British tariff against it. This tariff was not likely to be imposed at present,. but it might come in the near, future. Britain was realising that if the entity of the Empire was to bo preserved a tariff must be imposed against foreign com-

-petition. COSTS MUST BE REDUCED. In to-day’s period of low prices the Industry must set about reducing costs 'fee Government had given a lead bj its 10 per cent, cut, which was nol popular but- was necessary. It wat essential that the Dominion should get down to a lower level of expenses. He had been told that lower wages would afford practically no relief to the farming community,* but the fallacy of this argument was seen when one thought of the transport, manufacturing and other charges incidental to the dairy industry. By reducing costs the industry was getting oh to the right road, and must right itself in time. i The principal problem confronting the industry was to place the produce on the market at satisfactory prices, continued Mr. Murdoch, Lately these prices had been decreasing steadily. This was said to be largely due to outside competition and lack of quality. New Zealand’s duty was to find out what the consumers in England wanted and to meet their wishes. Quality must be maintained. The facts and figures showing the decline in quality were very disturbing, and some means must be found of countering this disability. It did not matter how many chemists were employed in scientific investigation—they were useless unless supported by every manager and individual supplier. The co-operation of the latter was essential. THE CRACKS AND THE MOULD. Everyone had heard about the cracks and the mould and all the other things with, which the cheese was said—especially in the South Island—to be afflicted, continued Mr. Murdoch. It was no use, however, going back into past histroy. It would not get them anywhere. It was no good saying so-and-so was responsible for the introduction of standardisation, and so on. The bridge was down, and they must set to work to rebuild it. Recently he had received a letter from a prominent man connected with the industry in Britain, stating that the gravest dissatisfaction was being expressed about much of the New Zealand cheese that was arriving. The writer went on to suggest that there should be only two grades, first and second. New Zealand cheese had so deteriorated, he said, that it was on quite a different marketing basis' from Canadian. Its chief faults were unsightliness on arrival, and lack of maturity. (Hear! Hear!) Mr. Murdoch proceeded to refer to the important conference held recently at Wellington, at which there were representatives of the department, the scientists, the Control Board, the factory managers and the producers. "The conference had tackled the dairy produce problem from every aspect and in all ite phases. They had invited free criticism, and if someone was hurt in the process it could not be helped; The matter had to be dealt with dispassionately, without heat and without personal feeling. .DECLINE IN QUALITY. Emphasising the fact that they wsftw Up against a serious proposition and must get down to bedrock as far as cheese was concerned, 'Mr. Murdoch quoted the following figures from consecutive reports received from London on the quality of cheese arriving. ‘N.I. and S.I. stand for North Island and South Island respectively: —

The last-mentioned proportion was better, said Mr. Murdoch, but there was an astonishing lot of cheese that was not first-class. In the discussions and remits during the forthcoming confer- > cnee and in the consideration of the re- ( commendations submitted to the con-

ference, he hoped the delegates would discuss the problems fairly and squarely, and without heat. Quality, more quality and etill more quality was what everyone should aim at. Every extra penny per lb meant a lot of money for the farmers individually and New Zealand as a whole. He believed that by facing the position properly New Zealand could secure just as good prices as Canadian, if not better, but he believed also that if something were not done soon they were in for a bad •time. Individual suppliers should aim to supply cledner milk and cleaner cream, which might mean the elimination of pasteurisation and cooking. The Government aaked for the co-operation and support of all farmers, who in return could count on the co-operation of the Dairy 'Board and the Department of Agriculture. He felt sure that if they all worked, with one end in view they would make considerable headway. Nothing but a article was wanted. The Government could stiffen up the grading, but the farmers must do their part.

January 1, 1928, to June 30, 1928. N.I. full-cream S.I. full-cream Fotal Good Mod. Inf. 62 62 323 323 1'55 155 106 106 Totals .... 1064 385 376 303 January 1, 1930, to June 30, 1930. N.I. Standardised 545 59 206 280 N.I. full-cream 207 58 86 63 S.I. full-cream 189 76 81 32 Totals 941 193 373 375 July. 1, 1930 to April 1 , 1931. NJ. standardised. 523 132 292 99 N.I. full-cream ■108 187 180 41 S.I. full-cream 117 75 35 7 Totals .... 1048 394 507 147