CHEESE AND BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 97, 13 April 1908, Page 4

CHEESE AND BUTTER.

ON BIUTISII MAIiKKTS. Mt.Mt: ski:iocs comi'mints. The .Minister for Industries and Commerce has received the following report 1 roiu .Mr. 11. C. Cameron, I'milncc ( oui-uii-sioiier, through the High nssioner for New /calami in Uiudon: - 20th. 1-eliruaiy. lUIIK. DAIRY HiODCCK ON BRISTOL V\l) C'ARIMI'T MARisKTS. Last week, along with Air. Cuddie, Dairy Commissioner, 1 paid a visit to Bristol and Cardilf for the purpose ol calling uopn merchants who have been handling and distributing New Zealand dairy produce ill these important centres, and learning from them how the shipments received from the Dominion this season have been satisfying tie. requirements of the trade. 11l lioth cities the shortage of butter was noticeable, and consequently faults that in a season when supplies were sufficient and disposal moderate would be complained of, were not strongly commented upon. This was generally acknowledged. The demand has recently been so keen, supplies having been less than requirements, that complaint has not been made of lots thai under ordinary conditions would have been objected to. From the statements made to us, however, there is little doubt bui that this season there has been cause for complaint regarding lishiness. While nearly all the merchants dealing iu NewZealand butter report having noticed the

OBJECTIONABLE FLAVOR in some of the parcels they have handled, aud say that lishiness is quite as pronounced as last season, one or two informed us that they considered it was more prevalent this year. There was at the time of our visit, however, so little New Zealand butter in the merchants 1 warehouses, that the complaints made could not be proved by demonstration. Only ill one instance w ere we shown a box of New Zealand butter tliat could be distinctly classed as fishy, and that box was one, it was acknowledged, that had been left lying at the docks without proper care having been [taken of it. The bulk of the butter of the same brand, which had been placed carefully in cold air chambers, was , found when sampled to be in \ SOUND AND SWEET condition. The facts iu the instance referred to went to prove thai the lishiness had been occasioned by want of proper care in keeping the butter. 1 greatly regret having to report that serious charges were made to us by several merchants concerning the manner iu which contracts entered into with them fur the sale of New Zealand factory outputs of butter had been broken. There is a strong feeling that owing to the unexpected high price thai has been ruling this season for butter shippers have been diverting part of the factory outputs and have been either selling a quantity locally in the Dominion or shipping it. Instances were given in which the

iji'AXTrrv OK WTTEK delivered to the purchaser here wifs not half tlml guaranteed. Naturally merchants who had made contracts for a certain supply had entered into business engagements at this end on the estimate of the quantity arranged lor, and tlu'V were being held to f«h liargains as they had made. The merchants however, not having received the stipulated quantity, cannot supply their customers, with the result, that" while they have to satisfy their agreements with their loeal customers thev can got ni redress from the shippers "in the Dominion. The complaints, for which there appears to be good ground, are far too general, and the fact is doing a deal of injury to the good name of the dairy [produce trade of New Zealand j <>\VlN'<; TO THE ,SUSPICION that is cast on the business morality ol I those engaged in it. No satisfactory reason can be assigned for the great deficit in the quantity of the butter delivered from that contracted for. It known that the season has not been -o unusually dry as to account for it. ami no information lias been received that the quantity produced in tlm-e factories making butter ha- shown any serious decline. Naturally, therefore, strong suspicion exists in the minds ot merchants, who have purchased forward, that they are not ItI'XEIVINt; FAIR THKATMKXT. The complaints have lieeu so numerous and serious that, as instructed l.v you, a cablegram has been despatched to the I'rime Minister, informing him of the charges made and asking him the ■ rea-on for the deficiency in t lie supply. It is hoped that the reply will be an explanation satisfactory to the purchasers.

COMPLAINTS ABOUT CHliliSE. Unlike the supply of butter, tluit of New Zcukind cheese was considerable, ami ill every warehouse we went to samples could be seen. New Zealand cheese iu the West of England ami in the South of Wales, is steadily growing in demand. It has, however, still to meet a large, competition from Canadian, which is dealt in extensively by merchants in these districts. New Zealand cheese, while generally handled, is complained of chiefly on account of the immature condition in whieli it reaches the market here. This objection is moro pronounced than any other,' and while ACIDITY AND OFF-FLAVORS are occasionally to be met with, these faults are slight compared with that of '•greenness." Evidently the cheese has not been held long enough in the cur- i ing rooms at the factories to allow them to ripen sufficiently before shipment. Consequently, having been carried ou board Bhip at a comparatively low temperature, they arc not matured when r they arrive here. There is no doubt that were cheese now produced in New Zealand treated at Ihe factories under proper conditions for a sullieieiilly lon;,' period before shipment, a very great improvement iu quality would lie cll'ected and their, reputation here would be greatly enhanced.

hen I was iu New Zealand four years ago I referred to this subject in the course of an address at Palmerslon North, at the Dairy Conference held there. I regret that more attention has not been paid to my remarks than would appear to have'liven the case, for it is a matter, I consider, of great ■ importance to all those engaged iu cheese production. Attention was directed both at Uri-tol and at Cardiff to the direct steam service between New Zealand and West of Kngland ports. From close inquiry j amongst the merchants handling New Zealand dairy produce there, it would j

appear that the service is NOT' PROVING SO SATISJACTOItV and advantageous n- hail been anticipated. The chief reason for this i- f irregularity of the service. Complaint - iii'e made that dependence cannot b,; ■placed 011 the dates of arrival, and that tlieri'iore it is impossible to enter into any delined contracts for the supply of dairy produce by the line. Several of the merchants informed Mr. Ouddie and my.-elf that they were now making arrangement- for delivery bv London in- | stead of by the West Coast, much

though they regretted doing so. as after giving the service a fair trial they found thing- in regard to it. were mil -bowing the improvement they desired. llegularily of arrival of tile boat-, is one of the principal things that, must be aimed at if the service is to be mail • -uccc-sful.

HKIMTCTIONS IN KKEICH'L an l acceptable and arc worth for. Imit I tlial it is of far more import iikv 111 at. -nine arrangMuen! i -ImuM !>♦• into l»y with ilm- -hipping i-oni|».<»iv u hereby regularity of arrival of shipments may be a'itr»Ml. Any elfnrl to improve this would lip appreeialH, | ,uit certain. hv I In* We-t of merchants. II. <\ CAMKIM t\. J'rutfiice OoiJimi-—ioiift■.