CHEESE QUALITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18809, 3 December 1932, Page 11

CHEESE QUALITY.

ALLEGED INFERIORITY. . MR PARLANE’S MEBSAQE, FULLEST INVESTIGATION SOUGHT. Reference is made by Mr C. J. Parlane, genera] manager of the New Zealand Go-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., in his December message to suppliers of the company, appearing in this month’s issue of the Exporter, to recent allegations of inferior cheese exported to England. "Our cheese suppliers particularly will no doubt have noticed reports recently published in regard to the general quality of New Zealand cheese being sold in the United Kingdom, states Mr Parlane. "Whilst these reports are frequently exaggerated, the question of quality of our produce is of such importance that we feel the fullest investigation should be carried out to ascertain the real position, and steps be taken to effect any Improvement which may he found necessary. “So far as our company is concerned, we have always given the closest possible attention to the question of quality of our produce, ami whilst the manufacturing process will no doubt require attention from timo to time in the direction of effecting further improvements our experience is that the need l'or better quality raw material is paramount. Sterilising Facilities. “Our experience has shown us that the sterilising and cooling facilities on many farms are not thoroughly efficient and do not ensure effective sterilisation of plant and utensils, nor satisfactory cooling of the milk or cream. “This state of affairs, in our opinion, Is to a large extent responsible for quality other than the best being sent into our factories. “As a starting point in an effort to overcome such defects on the farm we are of opinion that either the Agricultural Department or the Dairy Produce Board should take complete control of the operations of a small cheese factory in either Waikato or Taranaki (preferably one in each district) with a view to effectively supervising the production of cheese from the raw material to the finished product. Sufficient money should be made available to enable suppliers io the factory or factories selected to equip their sheds with efficient sterilising and cooling appliances, and arrangements should he made for the necessary supervision of all farm plant to ensure that the milk is being produced under the best possible conditions. Full control should also he taken of the actual manufacturing operations in the factory to enable the carrying out of experiments to determine the best methods for employment in manufacturing the improved milk into a finest quality cheese. Work of National Character. “This suggestion could, of course, be carried out by our own company, but as the work is of a national character we consider that the expense involved should be carried by the inlustry as a whole. “Our directors considered the position very fully at their last meeting and unanimously resolved that representations should Immediately be made to the Department of Agriculture and the Dairy Produce Board in an endeavour to arrange for some definite action being taken along the lines indicated above.”