33

H.—29

The opinion of the major portion of the importers of New Zealand cheese into London with whom I discussed the position was to the effect that on ail upward market the standardized cheese would sell for as much as full-cream cheese, but that on a depressed market the full cream would sell more readily. Certainly the market has gone to lower price-levels this season than for many seasons. Since prices receded more complaint has been forthcoming. Some of this is doubtless incidental to irregularities made inadvertently during the period of change over from full cream to standardized. Defects due to this cause are likely to lessen. There are other defects, due to an endeavour on the part of some companies to work too near to the minimum requirement of fat in the dry matter of the cheese, and there is also a trouble with a certain class of " openness " in cheese-texture which is not altogether understood. It, however, obtains at times irrespective of whether the cheese be standardized or whole milk, or whether the milk be pasteurized or not pasteurized. Storage of Butter and Cheese. The cool storage of butter and cheese prior to shipment has been carried out at all grading centres by cool-storage companies with the customary care and attention, and the produce has been loaded on to overseas vessels in good order and condition. Owing, however, to record quantities of butter, cheese, and fruit being cool-stored at Auckland this season, the cool chambers became overtaxed towards the end of March, and it became necessary to temporarily store some cheese in outside brick stores at ordinary temperatures. Fortunately no excessive heat has since been experienced, and, as it is expected that the congestion will soon be relieved, no damage to the cheese is anticipated.

Quantities of Butter and Cheese forwarded to Grade Stores for Years ended 31st March, 1930, and 31st March, 1929.

Value of Exports. Prices for dairy-products during the year have not been at so low a level for many years, and, despite the increased production, values for the year were lower by £2,019,706. According to the Customs figures, values of cheese, dried milk, casein, condensed milk, and milk-sugar totalled £18,842,994, as compared with £20,862,700 for the previous year. Casein. The quantity of casein graded during the year totalled 2,040 tons, being 150 tons in excess of the total for the previous year. The major portion of the casein graded—i.e., 90 per cent. —consisted of the lactic variety, the balance of 10 per cent, being " rennet." Quality has been of a uniformly high standard, and is considered equal to the best offering on overseas markets. A charge of lid. per hundredweight for grading this produce has been in operation during the whole year, and although this service is optional the majority of the casein shipped has been graded prior to export.

5—H. 29.

1930. i 1929. Port. I : - — .. — ; ; 7 ; Butter. J Cheese. Butter. Cheese. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Auckland .. .. .. 1,237,739 289,232 1,054,009 259,499 Gisborne .. .. .. 29.590 .. 27,277 Napier .. .. .. 43,280 4,365 40,940 5,723 New Plymouth .. .. 153,584- 338,04.6 116,422 337,579 Patea " .. .. .. 47,221 380,077 28,003 383.074 Wanganui .. .. .. 59,402 125,024 71,873 134,058 Wellington.. .. .. 224,655 259,429 195.808 261,410 Lyttelton .. .. 47,391 28,242 44,481 28,543 Timaru .. .. 6,268 17,403 7,350 18,495 Dunedin .. .. 24,364 49,164 25,552 46,556 Bluff .. .. 7,586 248,259 6,944 217,609 Totals .. .. | 1,881,080 1,739,241 1,618,659 1,692,546