BUTTER CRITICISM.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20281, 16 April 1934, Page 7

BUTTER CRITICISM.

No Second-grade Sold in England. REPLY TO COMPLAINT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 16. In a statement replying to criticism regarding the distribution of New Zealand dairy produce in England, the New Zealand Dairy Produce Control Board states that such criticism usually comes from New Zealanders returning from a holiday at Home. In the majority of cases, it alleges one of three things—lack of publicity, poor distribution, or low quality. The suggestion is made frequently that second-grade butter should not be shipped, as it affected the reputation of New Zealand butter generally. The board points out that during this season £37,500 is being spent on advertising in England, the levy having been increased to allow this to be done. The lack of distribution idea is purely a myth, for New Zealand butter can be obtained throughout the greater part of England, even in the smallest villages. No second-grade butter from New Zealand is sold in shops in Britain. The very small quantity that is shipped goes direct into manufacturing channels under the board’s supervision. Sometimes low grade butter is sold under the title “ Empire brand,” and if a buyer asked whether it was New Zealand butter he may be told that it was, and thus wrongly obtain a prejudice against our butter. There is still hope that at some later date an amendment to the Merchandise Marks Act may make it compulsory to sell butter under the name of its country of origin, in which case New Zealand butter would certainly benefit. (Reference by Mr Forbes to the dairy industry is reported on Page 5.)