ADDRESS TO DAIRYMEN

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1929, Page 2

ADDRESS TO DAIRYMEN

“NEW CLASS FOR CHEESE.” “The New Class for Cheese” was .he title of the address delivered by ,lr W. M. Singleton, Director of the 'Dairy 'Division, 'Wellington. “It is ess than half a century since the theory system of cheese and butter makig was commenced in New Zealand,” aid Mr Singleton, “and during that eriod the dairy industry has developd to nil extent which causes New Zealand’s butter and cheese to bo icognisod as one of the most important ictors in the world’s international airy trade. Like any growing peron, the industry in New Zealand has iad its periods of optimism and pessilisin. It has from time to time been called upon to face new problems, and t would appear that fresh problem; vill always be confronting those engaged in the industry—more particularly during its development stages.” It was not long since the industry bad been endeavouring to put Dominion cream grading on a practicable, workable basis, he stated, and it had mcceeded to a remarkable degree. M* Singleton said that at the present time the centre of discussion appeared to have switched over from cream grading to the manufacture of stan lardised cheese. 11l two years’ time this innovation would probably be viewed much as they now looked hack on the commencement of cream grading, but whether factory managers or the Dairy Division would receive the most knocks during the transition period remained to be seen.

“EXACTLY TRUE TO BRAND.”

Mr Singleton then dealt with the conference held Tn Wellington lust December, which was a well-represent-ed one of the cheese-manufacturing districts. At this conference they fully discussed the position in regard to ‘full cream factory cheese,” and “modified milk cheese,” and a resolution was passed to the effect that “full cream cheese” should be cheese manufactured from whole milk, with whole milk starter, if any. The Government considered that the recommendations of such a representative meeting could not be ignored, and the amending regulations of 1828 were immediately issued, giving effect to the desire expressed by the conference. The position now was that cheese, however manufactured, must be exactly true tp brand. Dairy companies had the option of making full cream cheese or standardised cheese, but were debarred from making part skimmilk cheese and branding it as “full cream.” Some of the dairy companies had taken objection to these regulations. OBJECTION TO REGULATIONS. These objections appeared to he the following:—(1) That the effect of the new brand, “Factory Cheese—Fat 50 per cent op . Over,”,., on, the ~, London market had not been sufficiently studied. (2) That the regulations should not have been brought- in during midsummer. (3) That the proposals should have been more widely referred to the industry before the amending regulations were gazetted, and that for this reason the coming into effect of the regulations should have been deferred, or the regulations should now be suspended. (4) That injustice had been domi to the cheese factories of tho Dominion through sudden and complete stoppage of the sl-rimining of milk as starter.

It was recognised, continued Mr Singleton, that the effect of the new brand of cheese on the British mar,ket had yet to bo determined, and that was probably the most important objection yet raised. The new brand permitted dairy companies to try out the market with a legally branded cheese, while it was also possible that that might have some undesiraihle reflex action on the price of “Full Cream” cheese, but there was also the chance that it might appreciate the price of “Full Cream.” In any case it was deemed in the interests of the “Full Cream” brand that they should not export as “Full Cream’’ choose made from other than whole milk.

The disuse of separated milk starter did, however, partake of the nature of a restriction, but it was the dairy companies which had been illegally exploiting the brand “Full Cream” who must carry the responsibility for the debarring of the use of separated milk starlet-, THE POSITION SUMMARISED.

In summarising the position, he continued, it might be staled that the question of a new brand had been discussed for years. The general opinion had become .more acute each year, inasmuch as there had been an increasing tendency to defy the law. The Wellington meeting in December had passed certain resolutions which, if given effect, should place matters on a definite and honourable basis.' That meeting had been probably the most distinctly representative of the clieoseprodueing districts yet lie.ld, and the Government had given effect to the requests of the conference. The new class of cheese had been made available, many dairy companies re-regis-tered their factories, and New Zealand was now making cheese true to brand.

Tn conclusion he submitted that it was fair to assume that tile resolutions as carried at the Wellington meeting and the regulations giving them effect would meet with the approval of the cheese producers, and lie believed that such was already generally the case where there was no misunderstanding of the previous and present positions.