NEW ZEALAND BUTTER

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 157, 31 December 1931, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER

THE BETWEEN SEASON

A QUALITY PROBLEM

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, sth November. Many high-class retailers who previously were not favourable to New Zealand butter now lind that the growing public demand for it necessitates their stocking it. Naturally, however, they wish to buy the finest grade. It is, therefore, most unfortunate that they cannot get the finest grade just at the moment. Although the question of distinct seasonal supplies from New Zealand has to a certain extent been overcome by judicious regulation of shipments there is a period still remaining—extending from Ist September to the end of October —when supplies of finest grades become unduly short. As this also is the period when store-stale butler makes its appearance on the market there is a distinct increase in couiplairjts as to the quality of Now Zealand butter at this time. This is assuredly a matter for the consideration of the authorities in New Zealand. In the past retailers have preferred to sell butter as their own "best." They have maintained that certain butters go off at certain seasons of the year. They disliked giving a Dame to New Zealand butter; for instance, because (heir customers might get used to it when it was in the best condition, and continue to ask for it between seasons when tiie retailer was not buying it. Tliey preferred to keep up their standard of quality irrespective of whether the butter came from New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, or whether it was blended. Now that New Zealand butter has a name and retailers arc more inclined to sell it as such, it is most necessary that at no season should its quality decline. Not only does store-stale or inferior butter injure the effects of the continuous and judicious publicity that is going on, but it constitutes a breach of faith with retailers and the public. In this connection it may be stated that the order for marking butter given under the Merchandise Marks Act recently is not likely to come into force for a month or two yet. When an order is recommended by the Standing Committee it has to lie on the table of tho House of Parliament for twenty consecutive sitting days. The "Houso of Parliament" includes the House of Lords. The Commons meet five days a week when in session, but the Lor.ls may meet only three days a week. The Order was laid on the table on 16th September, and so far as the Commons wore concerned about half the necessary time bad passed when Parliament dissolved. So far as the House of Lords was concerned only about a quarter of the period had expired. It is hoped that, the full period will have expired by the end of the year in sufficient time to send an application I<> the first meeting of the Privy Council in January. After that three months has to elapse before the Order comes into operation.