The Press SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1961. Initiative In Marketing Dairy Products

Press, Volume C, Issue 29518, 20 May 1961, Page 10

The Press SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1961. Initiative In Marketing Dairy Products

The milk processing plant for Mauritius is another excellent example of the progressive policy of the New Zealand Dairy Products Marketing Commission in its search for new markets. Faced with difficulties on its main market, the commission has not, as the chairman (Mr R. A. Candy) said recently. “ stood with bowed heads “on Britain’s doorstep “ while neglecting oppor- “ tunities for self-help “ elsewhere Before the war, New Zealand sold 3 per cent, by weight of dairy products to markets outside Britain. Four years ago the figure had been raised to 14 per cent., last year to 18 per cent., and during this year the commission hopes the proportion will reach 20 per cent. If this is achieved the commission will have sold to markets outside Britain about 65,000 tons of dairy products. Threequarters of the casein will go to markets other than Britain, sales of cheese will be up by several thousand tons, while shipments of milk powders and butterfat will show a substantial increase. particularly to Pacific Ocean and Eastern markets.

It is the sale of milk solids that is especially interesting at present. In the post-war world the value, of milk has become much more widely known in the developing countries —an outcome, it would seem, of the work of such agencies as U.N.R.R.A. It has been difficult for New Zealand to compete in the condensed and evaporated milk trade because the cost of canning has been much higher in New Zealand than

in the more industrialised countries. A revolution in this trade has been caused by technical progress which has shown the way to economic manufacture in the importing countries themselves of milk and milk products from milk solids. Low-cost milk, sweetened condensed, and evaporated milk can be made from milk solids without having to depend on liquid milk supplies. Butter can be made from “ dry ” butterfat; and from milk solids can be made a variety of ripened milk dishes which are popular in some parts of the w'orld. The expansion of marketing into the direct processing and selling of dairy’ products in Eastern countries has demanded much thought and initiative. On the business side, the Marketing Commission has become involved in company formation and administration in a way not previously envisaged within the dairy industry. On the technical side, the commission is providing skilled management that will guide developing nations in operating their own processing plants. An example of this is the appointment of Mr D. M. Mahon, manager of the Marlborough Milk Treatment Company at Blenheim, to the Mauritius plant. Our competitors will not be indifferent to these new developments. Nevertheless. New Zealand has reason to be satisfied with the energy and initiative, and the advanced sales technique, being shown by the authority in charge of one of the nation's staple exports.