WATCHING OUR PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 295, 8 May 1911, Page 5

WATCHING OUR PRODUCE.

j A FORWARD MOVE. | By Telegraph—Special to News. • Wellington, Saturday Night. During last month the Hon. T. Mackenzie. Minister for Agriculture, went fully into the matter of sending U London a dairy expert to watch the dairy produce and report to the Government the condition in \\hich it arrived", and aLso to offer suggestions when necessary. The Minister then decided, subject to the approval »f Cabinet, thai this should be done. This approval has now been gained. A DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. By Telegraph.—Press Association.. Wellington, Saturday. The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. T. Mackenzie, yesterday received a deputation from the National Dairy Association regarding the appointmiat of a Govern* ment expert in London TO watch the interests of New Zealand butter and cheese at the Home end, Mr. D. Cuddie, Chief Dairy Commissioner, attended on behalf of the Dairy Division. Mr. A. McFariane, president of the Association and chairman of the Ballance Dairy Co., said that at a meeting of the Association last month, owing to numerous complaints received about the condition of New Zealand butter, the directors had recognised that the time had arrived when an unbiassed man should W sent Home as an expert, and this deputation had been appointed to urge the Minister to make such an appointment, k the Minister was aware, they had 1 gone in for pasteurisation, expecting by * .this means to get nearer the prices realised by the Danish article. However, they were further away from their idea. Hon. Mr. Mackenzie: You arc within 2* of it.

Mr. McFarlanc: "Yes, at the present time." They were satisfied with the grading, which ran from 93 to 94 points, tut when their agents complained on account of the butter being "fishy* they wanted unbiassed advice to show where the butter had gone off. Then the Anglo-Continental Produce Company, Ltd., of 36 Tooley-street, London, was acting against the interests of New Zear land butter. He quoted from the company's circulars, in which thev said (Februarv 17, 1911): "The quality of New Zealand butter in each steamer worse than the previous one, and buyers are turning their attention to the best Victorian, which are undoubtedly the finest butters coming from the colonies this year—probably owing to the climatic conditions prevailing." "This," continued Mr. McParlane, "was doing harm to our butter." Other circulars issued by the same firm were to a similar effect. He quoted from a letter received from a dairy company that had been pasteuris; ing for the last two years under the best conditions, pointing out that in view of the great care taken in manufacturing . it was difficult to understand why the butter was not of better quality on arrival at Home, yet this butter in New Zealand was graded at 95. If that were so, the butter was travelling under bad conditions. What #»ey wanted to know was how they could save that 2s. An unbiassed expert at the Home end would * be a great advantage to them. Hon. Mr. McKenzie: What is your man doing when at Home? Mr. McFarlane: He sends us certain reports, but he is not an expert. It u only the commercial end he" is looking after.

Mr. W. Fisher, a member of the As- , sociation'B executive, and chairman of the Taratahi dairy factorv, brought under the notice of the Minister the grading of New Zealand cheese. Were their graders, he asked, doing the work on the right lines? Indifferent reports here became first-class reports at the other end and vice versa. The question was: Were their people at Home giving them fair and accurate reports or were thev biassed?

Hon. Mackenzie replied that the general question of appointing a man in London had given him a good deal of attention, and al)out the middle of last month they had practically decided to endeavor to secure an expert for the purpose. Of course, the appointment would have to get the approval of Cabinet. He considered that there was a good deal in what the deputation had said. They wanted a qualified man who was absolutely independent of all employers' or sellers' interests, and who could undoubtedly advisp lliem as to the actual condition of the output when it arrived in London. As to its subsequent development, that was another matter. An expert could report to them in what way the produce had gone off, and tell them if it were 'o(T' when landed. Of course, the Government had been doing a great deal during the last twelve months to advance the industry, and this meant a crond deal of money. Last year the dairy jndus>trv directly cost the Government £II,OOO. Tn connection with pasteurisation, the producers had given them a good deal of assistance. This season's output must be the best class of butter ever sent away from New Zealand. Tho question raised regarding cheese was one for experts, and well worthy of enquiry in order to strike the right' lines. How ever, it was pleasing to know that our cheese was occupying at present a hick position on the London market. Regarding the circulars issued by the AngloContinental Company, he 'had been in communication with the High Commissioner. He (Mr. Mackenzie) knew exactly what the situation was, and they were leaving the matter in the Conimigsioner's hands to take such action as he deemed fit. The point had been raised as to whether the statements in the circular constituted libel or not. They had had that sort of thing in connection with the frozen meat trade, a member of the Home Parliament rising and declaring 1 that the meat would give cancer to the people. He (Mr. Mackenzie) was on the spot, but it was with the greatest difficulty that he could get the London papers to take it up, and it was only through his personal acquaintance with the editor of the Standard that he could get n refutation published. As he'had said, it was his intention to recommend the Government to select the best man they could find to take up this wort, Mr. McFarlane suggested that it Wbtild be a good thing if a date stain|"stere put on the butter boxes, so" pert could see if the fault aroswiV'fhe butter befores hipment.