WORLD’S BEST BUTTER.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18164, 31 October 1930, Page 9

WORLD’S BEST BUTTER.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Some years ago you granted me space to express my views on the above subject. Since that time, much lias been written and all kinds of e.v--cuses made to explain the reason why Danish butter is invariably sold at a higher price than. New Zealand butter on the London market. Some would have us believe that the distance from the market alone is the main 'cause, while others declare it is entirely mar-, keting condition and go as far as to say that our butter is the best fn the world, in spite of the evidence that millions of the consumers pay a premium to obtain Danish. No sir, the sooner we acknowledge the truth and give credit where credit is due the better for all concerned in the dairy industry. If we would have a better price, we must give a better article. Let us drop such titles as “The World’s Best,” until we are entitled to them. Why is Danish butter superior? The only natural advantage that I can see, Denmark has over New Zealand is its close proximity to England. But we have a much superior climate, with its many advantages- Five years ago I gained the impression that the Danes were beating us because they had a better raw product to commence with. To-day as the result of these five years of practical work I am convinced that this is so. Once, we realise this truth the’ other factories mentioned —i.e., marketing and transit, '■ etc.,—become almost negligible. In my letter, previously mentioned, 1 pointed out that the Danes were paying more attention to the bacteriological side of the business, but as the price of dairy produce at that time was fairly high and as I am,neither a B.Sc., or bacteriologist, little notice was apparently taken of my warning. To-day prices are low and we are gradually being forced to face the truth. The Government experts in the Agricultural Journal are now writing in the same strain; in fact, one can hardly pick up a paper without seeing -something therein on the subject. The bacterial content of our milk must be kept down; in other words we must be cleaner in our methods of production. One of -many causes of dirty milk is the milking machine. I doubt very much whether these machines justify their existence. Some little time ago the Danes published the fact that the milk they produced remained sweet (without refrigeration), long enough to travel to. the United States of America and back. I can at any time give further proof that better butter, cheese and milk can be produced in New Zealand. —I am, etc., C. V. CARRYER. Hamilton, October 30, 1930.