CHEESE IN STORE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1917, Page 6

CHEESE IN STORE.

SOME PERTINENT QUERIES. THE PRIME MINISTER'S REPLIES. The question of the large quantity of cheese in store in Wellington was raised in the House iby Mr. (R. A. Wri"ht, member for Wellington Suburbs. Replies have been made (by the Prime Minto the following questions asked I'y liin:—(1) Whether the Prime Minister would inform the House if *fche cheese in store at Wellington and elsewhere awaiting shipment to Great Britain has been taken over by the Imperial authorities or is awaiting delivery f.o.b. ? (2) Whether he is aiwa;re that a quantity of cheese that was ly.ng in the Haifbor Board's stoTC at Wellington from January to May was destroyed 'by the direction of an official belonging to his department. (3) Whether he would state the reason for such destruction? (4) Whethfr he would, further, in view of the increased cost of cheese to the consuming public of the Dominion, advise the withdrawal of sufficient stocks from such, stores and placing them on the Dominion markets, so as to afford the local consumer a substantial reduction In the price now charged ior that #ommodity?

Mr. Massey's replies are as under:— "(1) All cheese manufactured in New Zealand for export up to the end of June has Ibeen taken over by the Imperial Government, and this includes almost the whole of the cheese in store at the various grading ports. An advance of 9C per cent, of the value is made on all classes (which has .been twenty-eight days in store, or is six weeks old at the time of grading; the remainder of the purchase-money is paid on receipt of the necessary documents after the cheese lias l>een placed f.oib. (2) It "3 true that twenty-five cases of cheese which were in the Harbor [Board store were conedmned by the dairy produco grader, and subsequently destroyed .under his direction. (3) The reason for the condemnation was that, owing to decompefsition, the ciheese was unfit for human consumption. It may be mentioned that the cheese in this instance arrived at the grading-store in a damaged condition, and that everything possible has been' done to safeguard the interests of the British Government in regard to the cheese held in store and awaiting shipment; but, unfortunately, there has not been sufficient cool storage space available at Wellington and other grading ports to deal with the large accumulation of stocks brought about by the Shortage of shipping space. Provision has, however, now been made by the Wellington Harbor Board for the cooling of large quantities of cheese during the coining season, and similar facilities are also being provided in other parts of the Dominion. (4) As the cheese belongs to the Imperial Government, none of it can bo withdrawn from store for sale for local consumption excepting at the request of the Home authorities; and to sell if, at a price substantially below what it has cost would, of course, involve the Imperial Government in heavy loss."