CHEESE PRODUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24418, 2 October 1940, Page 2

CHEESE PRODUCTION

CHANGE-OVER FROM CREAM DIFFICULTIES OF FARMERS QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. Oct. 1. The problems associated with farmers changing over from creamery to cheese factory supply were the subject of a series of questions asked by Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga) in the House of Representatives to-day. The questions arose out of the provisions of the recent Dairy Fupply Control Order which the Minister of Agriculture, Mr W. Lee Martin, said in his reply should be viewed as a precautionary measure only. Mr Doidge asked whether a farmer was to be reimbursed for the heavy costs in new equipment when forced to change over supplies from a creamery to a cheese factory, and what provision it was proposed to make when share milkers walked off a farm rather than submit to a change which involved a loss to them in the opportunity of rearing calves and pigs. Disposal of Herds “ How, in view of the difficulty of obtaining farm labour, is a farmer to fulfil the condition of clause 3, which provides that he must continue to milk substantially the same number of cows as were milked before the Order came into force? ”Mr Doidge asked. He also asked whether, in these circumstances, there would be annulled or varied the part of the Order which prevented a dairy farmer from disposing as he thought fit of his herd, either in whole or in part. The Minister said it had already been announced that if at the end of a given period a supplier who changed over had not reasonably recovered the value expended on dairy equipment, the Government would be willing xo take the equipment he had at its assessed residual value. No cases had been reported of share milkers walking off rather than submit t' changeover.

Mr Doidge: I can give you one The Minister; I understand that the effect of an Order on share milkers has been the subject of discussion between the owners and the share milkers in a number of cases, but the matter has always been settled amicablv. Provision for Exemption

Mr Lee Martin said that if a dairy farmed affected by l the Order required extra labour and provided satisfactory evidence that he had made reasonable endeavours to obtain it and had been unsuccessful, he would be considered eligible for exemption. Fur her, there was provision for granting exemptions from the Order dealing with the disposal of herds. In every case where hardship had been proved exemption had been given. Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition. Riccarton) asked whether the Minister was aware that cream factories had been notified not to pick up cream from certain dairy farmers where a cream factory had been converted into a cheese factory, and it was found a hardship for some dairy farmers due to local condi ions to change from cream to milk supply. He inquired what provision was to be made in cases of such hardship. Orders to Certain Farmers The Minister said he knew of no creamery which had been converted into a cheese factory in connection with the effort to obtain an increased cheese production this season. His department had advised against such capital expenditure. “ Certain cream suppliers who, it >s considered by responsible men of the dis rict and the local cheese instructor, could change from cream delivery to milk delivery for cheese manufacture without undue hardship and who would not change voluntarily, have been given orders requiring the delivery of milk to a nearby cheese factory," he said. “ Simultaneously an order has been, issued to the creamery not to accept cream from such a supplier until further advised " In cases where a supplier considers the hardship too severe an appeal can be made to me.” the Minister added. “In every case where an appeal has been made anci the circumstance j ap peared to warrant it exemption has been granted.”