UNFOUNDED BLAME

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1932, Page 2

UNFOUNDED BLAME

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER BONES

DO NOT TAINT CONTENTS

A denial that New Zealand-made butter boxes are responsible for the tainting of their contents has been forwarded for publication in Queensland by the New Zealand Sawmills' Federation. This 'action has been taken to counter allegations published recently. “The question of wood taint in butter is still receiving the careful attention of the Acting-Agont-General, Mr L. .‘II. Pike, whose report for 1931 has been submitted to Parliament,” stated the “Brisbane Courier” of August 2/. “Mr Pike stated that his former view—that taint in butter was due to volatile oils in certain timbers becoming dissolved in the butter —had been strengthened. These volatile oils were not confined to Queensland timber, as they were sometimes present in New Zealand white pine. . . . There was no doubt, therefore, that the use of New Zealand white pine had not altogether prevented wood taint arising in New Zealand butter. . . taint caused, it would appear, not so much by the us© of inferior or unseasoned Umber, hut by unsuitable timber.” j A reply, prepared by Mr A, D. McGavock, Director of Forestry, and forwarded to Mr L. J. Schmitt, New Zealand Trade Representative in Australia, states that dairy authorities in New Zealand and the New Zealand State Forest Service desire emphatically to protest against the statements. _ ■ “As far as the ordinary commercial shipment and storage of butter i s concerned, no complaints have ever been [received due to wood taint emanating from New Zealand white' pine, and the claim that th e timber is non-odoriferous and non-tainting has yet to be disproved,” continues the letter. “Wood taint certainly has occurred in butter exported from New Zealand, and often has been pronounced on delivery in Great Britain. In every instance, however, the taint has occurred in butter packed in containers of foreign manufacture.” ■