AIM FOR QUALITY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 708, 8 March 1933, Page 7

AIM FOR QUALITY.

Manufacture of Cheese Discussed. IMPORTANT PROPOSALS. (*• Star ” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, March 8. Proposals of a far-reaching character were endorsed at an important conference that the Minister of Agriculture • the Hon C. E. Macmillan) held yesterday with members of the Dairy Board, officers of the Agriculture and Research Departments and representatives of the cheese industry, at which difficulties which have arisen in connection with the manufacture of cheese in New Zealand and the steps necessary to overcome them were frankly discussed. The Minister presided and those present included representatives of the National Dairy Association, factory managers, mercantile interests, dairy secretaries, the Dairy Research Institute and its associated institutions. Some members of Parliament interested in the industry also attended. Helpful Discussion. Mr Macmillan stated this afternoon that the trend of the discussions was of a wholly helpful and constructive nature. It was evident that all present were desirous of doing their best to assist in placing the cheese industry on a higher and better footing. The final opinion was unanimously in favour of the proposals brought forward by the Dairy Board, aimed at securing a better and more uniformly good supply of milk for cheese factories, this being an essential and necessary basis for securing a cheese output of higher quality in all respects. These proposals were as follows: (a) The definite establishment of milk grading with differential payment; (b) regulations to be made to prevent suppliers leaving one factory for another during the currency of the dairying season; (c) the licensing of factory managers; (d) the Dairy Division to operate a cheese factory on the best modem lines with a controlled and clean milk supply. Chun to Producers. The Minister added that while it was fully realised that these proposals were much in advance of existing conditions it was felt by all that the circumstances necessitated firm yet judicious handling of the situation in the interests of everyone concerned, especially the producers, who had everything to gain from an improvement in the cheese quality, with the resuiting improvement in the market values. The Minister agreed to submit these conclusions to his colleagues in the Government for consideration, and a representative committee was set up to confer further with responsible Government representatives.