Danger to the Cheese Industry.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1769, 6 June 1913, Page 8

Danger to the Cheese Industry.

The Otautaii delegate's introduced th« cmestion of Mr. Cuddie's circular on the serious danger to New* Zealand s cheese industry avid a discussion followed. Mr. Manson spoke of a ease in which, at New Year time, hundreds of tons of cheese had'been in trucks at the Bluti waiting tor the boat. \IIo also stated that tho coastal boat shipment was another matter to consider, and ho thought it was time they had cold storage at the ports to hold cheese until tho arrival of the Home !>oat. Mr. Saivers read an interesting paper on "I'ho Delivery of Faulty Milk to Dairy Factories—lts Partial Prevention, ana Sure Cure." In the course of the address bo said that unfortunately a very large proportion of tho inilk delivered at tho factories at present was not in such a : sound condition as to enable makers, however good, to make really first-class cheese from it. Apathy and the general introduction of the milking machines were the main causes of tho serious decline in the condition of the milk delivered. With regard to milking machines, ho said that where they were properly installed and in the hands of very cleanly inclined dairymen, they were eflicient and ideal milkers. He believed that not 20 per cent of the machines in Otago and Southland were properly cleanscd and sterilised, and far too big a'percentage were kept in a deplorable state. Owing to the way in which most machines were fixed it would bo, even iu tho most intelligent hands, very difficult to properly clean them. Again, tubing used was mostly of inferior quality. To prevent the delivery of faulty milk he strongly recommended them toask for an amendment of the Aft.governing tho dustry in the direction of providing that every future. installation of ia milking plant be erected to tile satisfaction of the Agricultural Department. Until the Department issued a certificate, the niachines should not be used for milking, nor should the farmer be held liable for payment to the agent erecting it. Secondly, a certificate of competency and cleanliness should be issued to tho owner of tho machine by the Department and retained only to long as he kept the machine and the general accommodation in a condition satisfactory to tho Department's officers. At least half the cost of this work should be boras by the factories and the Government should be asked to provide the other half. One of the greatest objections to refusing delivery of faulty milk was the fact tnat it was almost, if not quite, a complete loss to the owners. To overcome this difficulty separating plants should be brought into use. Tho manager ehould be given tho utmost support and should bo told that ho' had to Taise tho standard of tho cheese. The owner of milk refused should be given the option of having such milk separated and tho butter-fat paid for at a rate of at least 2d. per lb. less than was being paid for milk taken for cheesemaking, with no bonus participation for 'such milk.

The address caused considerable criticism, a number of delegates refuting tho statement that 80 per cent of the machines were not in a satisfactory condition.

1 Mr. lliddleton stated that the reason for cheese not selling well ill London was not that the cheese was bad, but tlmt the selling of it was hopelessly mixed up. hero in the spring. Dairy Commissioner's Views. v Mr. D. Cudtlie, Director of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture, said that although one might not agree with all Mr. Sawers said, it must ba admitted that he had brought forward'some good suggestions. Mr. Cuddie went on to speak on tho lines of the circular he had sent out to factories. The circular, ho said, was not written without consideration, but it did not apply to the whole of Sow Zealand. There wero' amplo proofs that tho complaints mado against some New Zealand cheese during tho past season were quito justified. There had been an enormous increase in the cheese output in tho last six years and the industry was going ahead so rapidly that it was not likely to maintain the high standard of a few years ago. One reason was that some ipcoplo were going into tho business who had little knowledge of what was required. As for milking machines, thore wore over 4000 in use in New Zealand, and any experienced manager would say that it was. more difficult for him to manufacture first-class cheese to-day. than before the machines were so common. When complaints came from Home tho Department took iu hand the examination of machines and in two months 300 had been closely examined. Tho results showed that only 23 per cent-were clean. Ho would put it that they had 4000 machines in use, and they had to admit that half of them wore not what they should be. Something must be done by dairy farmers, through their managers,. and in that way much .of the trouble would be got ovor. It would pay the association to have a cool store erected at the Bluff as soon as possible. At present the cheese was not being properly graded at tho Blutf. He hoped the question would bo faced as soon as possible. Two Important Motions. On tho motion of Mr. Fisher, seconded by Mr. Lumsden, it was agreed that tho Executive of the 'Association, in conjunction with the Dairy Department and factory managers, draw up a set of regulations for factories for regulating the receipt or rejection of millc, and such other matters as might be deemed needful to improve the quality of cheese. On the motion of Mr. Lumsden, seconded by Mr. Hill, it was unanimously decided: "That the executive take steps to work in combination with the North Island Association for the improvement of tho disposal of our dairy produce in London by combined action, if possible."