DOMINION PRODUCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17836, 8 October 1929, Page 2

DOMINION PRODUCE.

BUTTER AND CHEESE

MR SINGLETON’S INVESTIGATIONS.

BRITAIN THE BEST MARKET. Mr W M. Singleton, director of the dairy division of the Department •of Agriculture, returned by the Niagara yesterday from a tour abroad on behalf of hTs department. New Zealand has already been blocked in the United States and on the Continent of Europe through the imposition of effective tariff barrieis, Mr Singleton said, while (lie muchdiscussed American tariff proposals, if put into effect, would also block New Zealand in Canada. Great Britain remained by far the most fertile source of market development on a large scale. Mr Singleton was sent away by the department to test the feeling among traders, as to' the suitability of New Zealand dairy produce for foreign consumption. He will furnish a report to the Government. Besides touring Great Britain, he visited Denmark and Holland, the United Slates and Canada, one of the directions of inquiry being to gauge the manner in which New Zealand standardised cheese was being accepted by the trade aboard. “ I cannot touch upon the content of my report,” said Mr Singleton. “ it can be stated definitely, however, that the quality of our butter is suiting the trade very well indeed. As far as our cheese is concerned, I should say it is probably more uniform in -quality now than any Cheddar cheese made in any other country. The flavour of the cheese is giving pretty good satisfaction, but there is room for improvement in body and -texture.”

Effect of American Tariff. Mr Singleton said that while New Zealand dairy produce had always been kept- out. of the United Stales by virtue of its tariffs, if the duties were increased, as was proposed in some quarters, the probability was that New Zealand would be indirectly damaged by the reaction upon Canada. ” A further increase in the American tariff will probably prevent Canada from sending her milk and cream lo the United Slates, and Iho probability is that those products will then lie. manufactured in Canada into butter.” said Air Singleton. ” The manufacture of larger quantities of locally-made butter in Canada will certainly mean a reduclion in Die quantify of butler imported, including that imported from Now Zealand. Of course. Ibis all depends on whether I lie, proposed new tariff is accepted. As a mailer of fact, there is a- pronounced feeling against the proposals in America, and I met a large number of people who thought that they had gone far enough in the matter of tariffs.”

QUALITY AND FLAVOUR, PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALAND. AUCKLAND, Tuesday. “ It is quality that matters, and not quantity," said Mr G. 11. Abel, who arrived by the Niagara, in referring to the market for New Zealand butter on the Home markets. Mr Abel said that he was glad that the New Zealand Government was (lying- all that'it could lo keep the quality up. People who did not know New Zealand desired the Dominion product on account of its reputed high -quality. The opinion in England was that New Zealand butter was beautifully flavoured, hut on account of its neutral flavour it was largely used for blending purposes.