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Island. He was asked the name of the factory. He said it was the Pueroa Factory. There was no such factory. It was this very skim-milk cheese from Dunedin, which he branded as " Pueroa Factory cheese." That skim-milk cheese has been sold all over the colony. It did a lot of harm. Of course a business of that kind is not a good one. There is one point which I might mention to the Committee. I think the proposed large central factory would do good. They are proposing to separate the cream and give the skim milk back to the farmers. At present the farmers get none of the skim milk at all; but it will be useful, with a little bruised mucilage, for cattle ; they like it as well. As to the question of grading in London, our association would like, if it were possible, to see a large store erected in London where all produce from the colony could be placed on being landed. Hitherto produce from the colony has been placed in a shed, where it had to remain until it was more or less damaged. Our idea is to have a large store in London for New Zealand produce. It would be properly cared for, and the produce could be received direct by the consignees. The shippers could get an independent report as to whether it was landed in good order or bad order. Mr. Ritchie informed the Committee that the difficulty in that matter had been that shippers would not all send it there. Some like to send to a particular place—to other ports. I think that cool stores should be erected at all the ports of shipment, to which farmers might send their butter in small lots as they had it ready for transmission. The Eailway Commissioners might have a properly-fitted van attached to the trains coming down on certain days. The farmers could leave their butter at the station, so that it would be easily picked up and brought to the port of shipment. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation (not given); printing (1,300 copies), £10.

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