CHEESE MANUFACTURE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1933, Page 10 (Supplement)

CHEESE MANUFACTURE

SUCCESS OF PRIVATE CONCERN. WHERE CO-OPERATION HAS FAILED

(By

“Tainui.”)

The success achieved by a South Taranaki farmer in the manufacture of cheese makes, one wonder- why : more farmers do not manufacture their own produce in this way. By so doing they could certainly receive the benefit of all that is in. their milk, especially in the case of cheese manufacture. There could not then be. the complaint, now frequently made, that in cheese the farmer with the high bqtterfat testing cows is receiving more than the cheese value of his milk, at the expense of the men with the low-testing herds, who are receiving less than their dues.

A quarter of a century ago, before cooperative dairying came into vogue, there were several private cheese factories in Taranaki, the cheese usually being made by the farmer himself and members of his' family. Since then, however, the manufacture of cheese in private factories has practically ceased in Taranaki, the farmers having linked'up co-opera-tive concerns. In earlier, days the cooperative factories certainly proved very satisfactory, there being no complaints as to the quality of the cheese. On the other hand-they received nothing but praise. However, of later years, primarily due,’ many people think, to the race for yield, the quality has slipped back.

Whatever the cause,, despite the best efforts of all interested in the industry, there are still complaints' from those that handle the article at Home, and there are . still troubles -to overcome, which appear to be puzzling the scientific experts. No doubt'the utmost care is being taken in the productions of dairy produce by very many fanners, but unfortunately there are the exceptions to the general rule who either cannot or will not produce a first class raw material,' and' the mixing of the milk from their farms with the first-clhss milk in the vats has a deteriorating effect. Several farmers,, particularly those with big herds, have thought of starting the manufacture of their own' cheese, but they were faced with difficulties, one of which in the past has. been- the labour: question; The fact that they would have, to pay high wages to the man in charge of the factory and also be faced with various restrictions. proved a bar to the man with the small herd, whilst there, was also the fact that he had already .taken up shares in his cooperative factory,, and these shares, amounting to a very considerable sum in the case of the man with the big herd, would be, so much dead money if he did not continue to make use of the co-operative factory.- ■ ,

Some farmers consider , that there would be difficulty in marketing their own manufacture; but there is usually demand for a good article. Multiplicity of small factories, of course, would entail more work in the way of supervision.. oh the’ part of the. Government dairy instructors and graders, but a few private factories established in various parts of Taranaki, might prove useful, as a basis for experimental work.