BUTTER CARRIAGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20057, 2 October 1939, Page 5

BUTTER CARRIAGE

EFFECT ON QUALITY RAPID TRANSIT NEEDED ROAD THE BEST MEANS “We realise that these industries, especially dairying, .must be kept going; they are the life-blood of the country,” said Mr. E. J. Phelan, No. 1 Licensing Authority, when the carriage of butter from country factories to city freezing chambers was being discussed at a sitting of the authority in Auckland. Representatives of dairy compariies and transport operators in the Rodney and Tuakau districts were present v Dairy factories had all received requests that, in view of present 'conditions, they, should manufacture butter of a quality which would stand long storage, said Mr. L. P. Leary, on behalf of three operators in the Warkworth district. Butter was now being taken by road from the Rodney Dairy Company's factory to Birkenhead in a shprt time, which was of great importance, as the quality of the product was affected by the length of time out of the freezer. If the butter were taken by road and rail, it would be left .at the railway station during the day, and the distance it was taken would be twice as long. Similar representations were made on behalf of carriers for the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company’s factory at Tuakau. The freezing capacity of the factory,' it was stated, was limited to two days’ manufacture. The butter, which was sent to Auckland by road every day, reached the freezing chambers two hours later. If it was sent by train, the quality of the product would be impaired by loading during the heat of the day,- and -butter would also have to be' stored in ordinary atmospheric conditions during, the weekend. On behalf of the Railways Department, Mr. J. Sawers said it had been found necessary in the public interest to let the matter rest as it was. His department realised that road transport was more suitable in this case.