“N.Z. Dairy Produce Not Worlds Best”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 606, 7 March 1929, Page 12

“N.Z. Dairy Produce Not Worlds Best”

OVERSEAS REQUIREMENTS MORE KNOWLEDGE WANTED “You are making very excellen* butter and cheese, but it is not the best in the world and never has been, and until you realise that fact you will not be abie to realise that high ideal,” said Mr. F. J. Nathan, of Palmerston North, in an address to members of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Dairy Foctory Managers’ Association yesterday. “Visitors to England are constantly returning to New Zealand to tell you palatable untruths about New Zealand dairy produce being the best in the world, but it was not the best, and the only man who told you the naked truth about the decline was Sir Thomas Clement.” There had been a distinct falling off in the quality of New Zealand butter and cheese in recent years, said Mr. Nathan, and he wondered if Mr. W. M. Singleton, director of the dairy division, received under the seal of confidence reports from the representatives of the department in London, other than those published, and which indicated the seriousness of the position.

Mr. Nathan contended that there j was not sufficient knowledge in the dairy division of this country of the requirements of the markets on the j other side of the world, and he sug- j gested that an official of the depart- j ment in London should be brought back to New Zealand to give lectures I un what was required at Home. He ! also suggested that year by year there should be constant interchange of graders in New Zealand with those in England and America. In that way a knowledge of the requirements of the other markets would be obtainable. "There are many competent men in ; New Zealand but they have had no j experience of other countries. I suggest that the Government finds funds to bring men from England to New Zealand, and to take New Zealand men to the Old Country so that knowledge will be brought to those engaged in the industry in this country.” Something must be done, as the Dominion was so largely dependent on the export of its dairy produce. LOW-GRADE CHEESE The manufacture of cheese was the next subject touched on by Mr. Nathan, who said that complaints of openness were deserved. tie realised that a factory manager often was hampered by the interference of directors who reprimanded him when he rejected an inferior milk supply. He was told he must not do that, and this poor milk was then placed into a separate vat and made into a low-grade cheese. “Then you sell the worst thing in the world called cheese to the poor New Zealand public, and you know it’s true.” Mr. Nathan urged the managers to show that they were in earnest in the desire for compulsory milk grading so that the hands of the officers would be strengthened. The overdoing of the system of waxing was one of the causes of the decline in quality which was so seriously menacing the industry. In an endeavour to do the work of cheese-making in about a quarter of the time, and by the use of too much wax, the factories were killing the goose that laid the golden egg. By waxing they had been told that they could save about one per cent., but some had not been satisfied with this and dissatisfaction had resulted. CONGRESS TOO TECHNICAL Mr. W. G. K. Wright, editor of the

"New Zealand Dairyman,” and the representative of the New Zealand Dairy' Factory Managers Association at tlu worlds dairy congress, was also very frank in ins statements regarding the position. "The congress was no good to us; it was too technical. Experts were asked to speak ahead of the congress and the answers were also arranged,” said the speaker. England, he said, was the manufacturer of tiie finest cheese in the world and the largest maker. Opinions of leaders in the dairy industry in England showed mat there were complaints about the openness of the Dominion’s cheese. The English manufacturers kept their cheeses in the presses from two to three days and they paid more attention to the finish of the cheeses than was the practice in New Zealand. The Dominion was rushing too much. The regulation of acidity according to the distances to be travelled and the consumers’ requirements needed consideration. There was room for considerable improvement in the packing of New Zealand butter.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH NEEDED The iiuality of New Zealand cheese on the English markets had deteriorated. If tne standard had been maintained the prices would have kept up in spite of increased production. There was not enough scientific research and more of our scientists as well as others from overseas should be employed in the industry. it would appear that the use of artificial fertilisers had changed the character of the herbage in this country and consequently the flavour of the milk. Pasteurising had overcome the flavours in the milk but had raised the new problem as to the flavour of the finished product and had also insituted changed methods of manufacture. This should all be investigated. Standardisation should not have bene adopted without more information and experimental work. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE PUPILS it was desirable that factory managers should co-operate in releasing any of theft* employees who desired to attend the Massey Memorial Agricultural College, said a member. Some managers had told their employees that if they wanted to attend the college they could do so at the expense of losing their jobs. This was the wrong spirit. The boys who had gone to the college were keen and had astonished their tutors with their desire to learn.

It was necessary, however, that a hostel should be established at the college. At present the boys had to board in the town and much time was wasted in journeying from the town to the college and back again. If a hostel was established this waste could be avoided. The boys would pay board the same as they were doing at present, and the hostel would be a paying concern.

A resolution to urge on the college council the necessity for erecting a hostel at Palmerston North for the boys engaged in studying, was carried.

HUDDART-PARKER’S YEAR | STRIKES REDUCE PROFITS A LOWER DIVIDEND (United B.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Reed. 9.15 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. Huddart, Parker, Ltd.'s, accounts, which have just been issued, disclose that the profits fell from £143,000 in 1927 to £124,457 in 1928, owing to the cooks’ and waterside strikes, and the stagnation of the coal industry, in which the company is interested. The dividend has been reduced from 14 to 10 per cent. The preference dividend is 6 per cent. The dividends absorb £105.000. Following is a comparison of results over the past four years:— 1926. 1927. 1928. 1929. £ £ £ £ Net profit 133,985 141,063 143,007 124,457 Dividend 12i p.c. 16 p.c. 14 p.c. 10 p.c. Amount of div . . 123,750 150,000 135,000 105,000 TAHEKE DAIRY SUPPLIERS PROPOSAL TO CHANGE FACTORY (From Our Own Correspondent) RAWENE, To-day. A meeting of dairy suppliers from the Taheke and Punakitere districts was held at Taheke. -v Mr. A. Grounds, chairman of directors, presided, and was supported by Messrs. W. Finney, Harding, Leaf, L. S. Barrett (manager), and Rob. Forber (secretary). The projected change from the Hokianga factory to the proposed new factory at Kaikohe was discussed at length. Mr. Grounds spoke strongly in favour of supporting the factory which they had built and maintained, and said that no financial benefit would accrue from the proposed change. He also stated that the Hokianga shares were a better proposition than the Kaikohe ones. Mr. J. White pointed out that in Hokianga one could supply 1951 b of butterfat on one share, as against 1001 b in the new factory. Mr. W. White said that he intended supplying the new factory as a business proposition, as Kaikohe was the liatui'al outlet of the districts. With regard to shares, he made it clear that on a £.s.d. basis one could supply 2501 bin Kaikohe factory, as against 1951 b in Hokianga, as the former were only £1 shares, instead of £2 10s shares as in the latter. No decision was arrived at.