CHEESE INDUSTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18500, 22 February 1930, Page 21 (Supplement)

CHEESE INDUSTRY.

IMPORTANT INDUSTRY AT PALMERSTON. By Telegraph—Press Association. PALMERSTON N., Feb. 21. One of the most important conferences that has ever been held in New Zealand in connection with tfie cheese industry took place in Palmerston North to-day, when, after four hour’s discussion upon standardised .and modified manufactures, it was decided, with small opposition, that the policy of the industry shall be to aim hu standardised cheese equal in quality to full cream cheese from milk from lower testing-breeds The conference was probably the most representative meeting of its kind ever held in New Zealand, delegates being present from 85 North Island Cheese Companies, while Mr John Smith (Wyndiiam, Southland), represented 60 to 70 cheese factories of the South Island. Remits sponsored by South Auckland delegates, that cheese be sold on its merits, with elimination of the words standardised and modified, were lost as also was anothe.r remit that during the months March to July, cheese containing under 52 per cent, but not less than 50 per cent, fat in dry matter, be allowed to be exported under the standardised brand. A suggestion that the fat content be fifty per cent, throughout the year also was voted out along with a motion that the "finest grade be re-established.” Mr W. H. Singleton (Director of the Dairy Division) in addressing the meeting pointed out that experiments had proved that the addition of large quantities of skim milk resulted in pasty and sticky cheese. There were a lot of delegates who felt a sense of relief that standardised cheese had been accepted at Home, but it had not yet stood the test of time. As regards modified cheese, it was wrong to allow 260 tons to prejudice 30,000. Mr Riddet, of Massey College, and Mr Veale of Hawera Laboratory, pointed out that the use of too much skim milk affected the flavour of cheese. Any attempt made to lower the standard would seriously affect the industry.