THE CHEESE INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 220, 17 March 1914, Page 7

THE CHEESE INDUSTRY.

BETTER CONDITIONS WANTED. In connection with the question ol better-conditions for handling Taranaki'* cheese'on t .msit to the port and otherwise, wliici'. is dealt with in a resolution moved by Mr. D. J. Hughes at the meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, and to be further discussed at. next meeting of the Board, Mr. Hughes has received a letter from Mr. Cuddie, Director of the Dairy Produce Division of 'the Agricultural Department, in whish lie says:— "It is unfortunate that little or nothing has yet been done to improve the conditions under which cheesu is handled between the factory door and the ship's side, for this season has again emphasised the necessity for some provision being made. The cheese industry ias grown at an enormous pace during the past-.few years, and it now ranks a.-i one of the most important in the Dominion. It had always seemed strange to me that the producers allow their cheese to be so badly handled after all the trouble and expense of turning out a good article. For lack of proper cool storage at several of the grading ports, including Wellington, much of our cheese is being more or less spoiled before it is shipped, to say nothing of the enormous loss that is going on lis a result of the extra lobs in weight, the cheese becomes in ltodv through exposure to temperatures that are too high, and this fault is being complained about bv the trade at Home every season. The "sooner something is done to overcome these disadvantages, the better it will be for the dairy farmers of New Zealand. I intend to again take the first opportunity of planing this matter before those concerned. As a matter of fact, I have spoken of it time and again to a number of people interested, but so far without any apparent result. . What is required is united action on the part of all trie dairy companies concerned to put tliec-e matters right, and it would be money in their pockets if they did so."