MILK FOR CHEESE

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18441, 23 September 1931, Page 9

MILK FOR CHEESE

(To tiie Editor.) Sir.—l must apologise lo “ pair Piny ” for not replying earlier to his latest effusion, as in his own interests it is desirable Hint lie should he enlightened on certain points, coneern■ing which he shows most colossal ignorance. Headers can judge tiie value of ” Fair Play’s” statements by tho Inanity of the following gem " Pnr the past I wo years, tiie breeders of Hie white milk breeds in Taranaki have, had no difficulty in placing ail surplus slock in their own territory whereas ‘ Commonscnse’s ' fancy, ihe big’h testers, are compelled in' seek marke-is further afield, i.e., hi tiie Waikalo.” Now. I think ii can safely be. said that in Taranaki fully 90 per vent, of Hie. dairy farmers milk cows of the high-testing variety, and as the

remaining 10 per cent., whose toterosts are wrapped up in tho low testers, could never be convinced, they are naturally obliged to look to outside markets for the disposal of their surplus young stock. Due to the beneficial influence of these high-testing cattle from Taranaki, the Waikato has risen from Its early obscurity to the position of the premier dairying district. However, for “ Fair Play ” to state that the Taranaki breeders aro “ compelled ” to eomo to the Waikalo for a market is ridiculous, for I venture to say—and 1 am probably understating the position—that lor every animal of the low-testing breed sold at least ten representatives of l-ho high testing breed find ready purchasers. At various centres in Taranaki dho high testing breed interests sell hundred of bulls every year but one, never hears of a single special bull sale arranged by the breeders of low testing cattle. Unfortunately for them they arc compelled—this time the word Is used in tiie right sense—to kill practically all their bull calves at birth. The only ones kept are the very choicest representatives of their race for which, as "Fair Play” says, there is probably good competition amongst Iho handful of low testing enthusiasts. They know better than to endeavour to explore the Waikato market, for the prices they would receive would not meet the rearing costs. J There is 111 tie chance of Hie triumphal! inarch ol’ the high testers being nr- j rested in Taranaki, for the dairyman's ' reliance on them lias been made even more steadfast by Hie results published at I lie end of last season by l.ic 1 Taranaki Co-operative I lerd-l c-Cing Association. These figures showed that : Ihe high -tost ingr breed, while not only the biggest producers of hut ter fa I. also produced the greatest amount of milk.

" Fair Play" expresses a desire to help Jin any .way, " bo lit ever so small,” to save dhe dairying industry from shipwreck. Unfortunately, however, ho Is incorrigible and persists in ills attacks upon standardisation. As I have already pointed out the failure of standardisation was not due lo any lack of quality but to propaganda from the low testing breeds who cried “ stinking fish ” and sought to serve their own objects at Hie expense of the national interests. Tho inspired criticism emanating from inside our own industry was seized upon at Home by the speculators and the fair name of New Zealand cheese was literally dragged in the mire. Mr Goodfellow, when he was in London, could not find any genuine complaint. The New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company, Limited, manufactured last season no less than 18,701,1001 b. of cheese and naturally took every precaution of ascertaining the position. Yet their verdict was absolutely for standardisation, and personally T should accept if in preference to the opinions of Mr lorns. “ Fair Play,” if he does not already ; know, will be interested lo learn that some time ago the Dairy Produce L Hoard had several samples of stand- i ardised cheese and ordinary cheese i hold for three months in cold storage,!, 1 he cheeses were then placed on ex-j ] hihilinn at the last National Dairy con- j ferenee at. New Plymouth in June and j i it. was the general opinion of the j j delegates that the standardised article j was superior. Now, these cheeses | went, through the same treatment as if they had been exported, which 1 scarcely tallies with " Fair Play’s ” ; statement about a sample of standard- ] t ised having been opened up " nbso- I , hitely rotten ” in Britain.. ( j In referring lo Hie fact that the);

Edendale factory, whoso supply Is drawn from low testing herds, has for some years won the Gold Medal for cheese at the London Dairy Show, “Fair Play" carefully omits to state tho strength of the competition. The contest Is one that attracts very few entries and possibly a few low testing factories in Southland have things entirely to themselves. But what of the Dominion Championship at the last Waikato Winter Show when practically all the leading factories of New Zealand competed? Ngaero (Taranaki), the highest, testing factory of all, emerged victorious with the Southland entries well down the straight. In all the discussion on cheeso quality amongst the experts of tho industry there has never been any talk of high testing milk being responsible for cheese weaknesses. The question Is one that the men higher up apparently do not regard as worthy of consideration. Their research lias been directed to the obvious causes, such as faulty manufacture and the poor condition in which much of tho milk is delivered Lo tiie factory. What is realty needed is an improvement in Hie quality of the milk—tho way in which It is handled and kept—while the elimination of mammitis germs is another important, factor. If all the milk was delivered clean and cold to lim factory we would never hear anything about high testing milk being detrimental lo the quality oi'out cheese. Compulsory milk grading and the appointment of dairy farm inspectors are Hie crux of the question—not high testing milk. ‘‘Fair Play" says “. . . history has proved that, there has always been J a ‘Common Sense’? (| thank him for the query) ready to oppose the march of progress.” May I return the compliment by suggesting that there has l always been an agitator endeavouring

J with fantastlo schemes to subjugate the ’ good of tho country to serve "tho Jn- ’ terests of a few.—-I am, etc., ; COMMON SENSE, i Morrinsville, Sept 21, 1931. j This correspondence was originally . based on the system of payment for ; milk for cheese. Contributors have lost sight .of that Issue, and have be- , come Involved in a controversy on . breeds. To this subject we can devote no further space.—Ed. W.T. ——