NEW ZEALAND BUTTER

Shannon News, 30 November 1928, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER

HIGH REPUTE IN LONDOI/.

SELLING ON OWN MERITS.

The high repute in which New Zealand dairy produce is held in London was discussed by Mr. W. G. K. Wright, editor of the New Zealand Dairyman, who arrived at Wellington last week from London, where he represented the New Zealand Dairy Fac tory Managers’ Association at the World Dairy Conference. Mr. Wright said delegates representing 47 countries met at the conference, and with them whre most of the great authorities on the dairy industry. There were over 700, delegates, and every aspect of the industry, from the soil to the finished dairy product, was ■discussed. It was a most, impressive gathering and the personal touch was of the greatest value. Mr. Wright toured' England and Scotland, and also saw much of the .dairying industry in Denmark, Germanyj Sweden and Holland. “I was astounded,” he said, “at the intimate knowledge of the New Zealand industry possessed by the Danes, Swedes and Germans. My visit to the Continent was highly educative and I hope to place what information I gathered there at the disposal of the industry in New Zealand.”

Reliability of Cheese. The dairy factories in England and *m the Continent were ahead of those in New Zealand in the matter of appearance, but on the -whole they were not nearly so well equipped. In that way New Zealand was well in the lead. England was the greatest cheese-pro-ducing country in the world, although the article varied so much in character that it could not be depended upon. On the other hand the New Zealand highstandardised cheese was in great request, for buyers could .rely upon its even character, • 1

Regarding the effect of publicity it was a fact that the practice of blending New Zealand butter had fallen off remarkably. This was attributable to the efforts of the Empire Marketing Hoard and the New Zealand Produce Hoard to maintain the identity of New Zealand produce. “The butter is in great retail de maud for. its own sake,” said Mr. Wright, “and New Zealand produce sells as such on its merits.- It is then quite evident that our New Zealand manufacturers are working along sound lines in the manufacture and distribution of their produce. Testimony to Grading Staff.

“Our butter is of such - uniform quality—more so than any othor\so far as I could ascertain—that the oldestestablished houses, with high business reputations to keep up, can and do buy this article 14,000 miles away, neyor seeing it, but buying it in absolute confidence in the Dominion Government grade notes, and reselling it without hesitation or anxiety to their most valued customers. This speaks volumes, I - think, for the skill and integrity of the New Zealand grading staff. Itis the best testimony that I can imagine to the quality of our produce.” V Reference was made by Mr. Wright to the desirability of New Zealand butter manufacturers dispensing with “neutralising agents.” “It must be recognised,” he said, “’that while imitation might be the sincercst form of flattery New Zealand’s competitors are only too ready to copy, and, if possible, improve on the New Zealand standards of dairy produce. ” He had made many technical notes on this subject of manufacture and hoped he would be able to place them fully at the disposal of the industry. He also -suggested improvements in the packages for export butter.