AUSTRALIAN BUTTER EXPORT

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 813, 10 May 1910, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN BUTTER EXPORT

COMPULSORY GRADING URGED

A comprehensive report" on Government supervision of the butter export trade ot Australia, under.the Commerce Act, lias beeu preparod by Mr. N. Lockyer, .As-sistant-Comptrellor General of Customs. The kornel of the report is a straight-out demand for compulsory grading. In Mr. Lockycr's opinion, <r is is impossible to raise the Australian butter industry to the 1 high lovol accessary for its reputation abroad and its most profitable development afc Home without the aid of compulsory grading, and the uniform standards of quality whieli that compulsory grading will attain." The Sydney '"['olograph" criticises many of the recommendations, and says: Tlie arguments set out in favour of this Government control are not at all convincing as far as this State is concerned, and_ it goes without saying that the innovation would be just as stoutly resisted now as it was in the past. The opposition here is strongest from many of tho largest and best co-operative factories, who simply resent grading as an unwarrantable interference on the part of tho Government. Their experience and success .entitle them to consider themselves the best judges of what they may desire to export, and no supervision would _ make thorn more jealous of the reputation of their product than they. are at present.