PUBLIC OPINION.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18170, 7 November 1930, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION.

As expressed by correspondents, wnose letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents must write in ink. CHEESE QUALITY. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Since my first letter on this subject a statement by Mr Udy, of Hamilton, has appeared In the press on the 29th. ultimo. I would like to point out to readers that it is merely a- statement of the difficulties confronting the Industry, which are already well known to every cheese producer. There is the producers’ point of view to be considered. A brief outline of an experiment carried out .by the New Zealand Dairy Company at their Gordonton and Hairini factories, from January to May last should be of general interest. The suppliers of the respective factories were called together and the position put plainly before them; that the management wanted to raise the milk to the highest possible qaulity to see if it was the cleanliness of the milk that was at fault. The suppliers agreed to co-operate, the “ bacteria count” method was adopted, samples being taken twice a week from, each supplier. It cost §ome suppliers a considerable amount to bring their milk up to the required standard. However, after about a month the whole of the milk of the two factories was brought up to the very highest standard from the point of view of cleanliness. It has been admitted bv Mr Dixon that the experiment was a "failure, as the cheese showed practically no improvement. In these circumstances, the producers are justified in asking, why should they take a lot of extra trouble for no gain. Yet we hear a lot about the shortcomings of the farmer; as a whole the farmers are quite prepared to do their part, but .expect to see results from the extra labour involved. In reviewing the experiment carried out by the New Zealand Dairy Company it seems to me reasonable to -assume that the effeot of putting anything from 60 to 100 gallons or more of skim milk, highly charged with gases into a vat of whole milk must change its character, and so accentuate the very defects, it was hoped to overcome. . Every farmer knows the danger of feeding stock with fresh skim milk, highly charged with gas by the speed 'of the separator and it is" safe to say a heavy toll of calves and pigs is taken every season in the dairy industry through carelessness. Adverse comment has been made on Mr Veale’s report, in regard to his opinion as to the ill effect of machine milking, causing too much agitation of '«!>• milk; the addition of skim milk must surely make matters worse. It appears to me, possible, that had the experiment under review been tried at a low test “ full cream factory, the cheese would have shown the expected improvement, rewarding the farmers concerned, for their extra effort. We seem to be in a morass at present and I am afraid the ehorts of our scientists and experts are doomed to failure, until they face the commonsense road indicated in my letter of October 30 and by Mr Veale in his courageous report of eighteen months ago.—l am, etc., R. G. YOUNG. Gordonton, November 5, 1930.