N.Z. CASEIR

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1932, Page 6

N.Z. CASEIR

THE GERMAN MARKET

THREATS OF AN EMBARGO

LONDON, October 28

.Among the Hartz Mountains, in Germany they make a cheap but palatable cheese with the aid of c'asein, and for many years that casein has come from New Zealand. The Amalgamated Dairies hav e supplied approximately 1200 tons of casein for the cheese made each winter, but powers are 'at work to prevent this “Anchor” casein from going into Germany. One quality is particularly, necessary if. the casein is to be used for cheese, making. It must not contain iron in greater quantity than fifty in a million parts. If. the iron exceeds this- proportion the cheese goes black in a day or two. -New Zealand casein has thirty ■ parts of iron or less to 1 the mililion parte. Hence, its acceptability to the German cheese-makers. Th e casein is used as a ‘binder for the curds, and the resultant cheese is not unlike Gorgonzola in appearance. It is sold in pats costing th e equivalent of 2d and o'nton verv largely bv the poorer people between black bread.

GERMAN FAILURE TO PRODUCE. For some considerable time the Germuff! have tried to produce a suitable edible casein themselves, but they have not met with success. It is now proposed ‘by certain interested parties that the German farmers should he supplied with up-to-date, first-class enr^ein.manufacturing machinery through their Government, and that regulations be framed making it, compulsory for imported

casein to be impregnated with petrol or .poisonous material. The Argentine is r'pother ‘targe .exporter of casein to Germany, but the material from that country is used only for the mncmfacp tore of ornaments, utensils, and such- | like articles.

Steps are .being taken both in New Zealand and in this country to counteract t'he movement, which practically places an embargo on the New Zealand trade. The Amalgamated Dairies ih'ave gone to work through Oflical channels, the British Foreign Oflioe, and as Great Britain i s now in a position to take retaliatory measures it. is hoped that 'the matter will b<» settled ;ii ’a manner which will safeguard (her New Zealand casein trade.