NEW ZEALAND BUTTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1801, 11 October 1888, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER.

A London correspondent of a contemporary writes Sir Francis Bell is advertising for a thoroughly qualified person acquainted with the best systems of dairy-farming, and competent to instruct dairy-farmers in .Wew Zealand as to the best methods of preparing their .produce for the English market.” He has received numerous replies, but the drawback to most of the applicants is that they do not sufficiently understand the necessities of the London market. The " A gent-General is now in comnmuicathm with Professor Long on the subject, and will very probably find the sort of p.rson required through his help. Up the present, as I have more than once explained, New Zealand dairy produce has only proved indifferently successful. Against the cheese nothing can now be urged save that the quality varies more than is desirable. Retailers do not as yet take very kindly to it (I quote the smartest cheesemonger in South Kensington), bat the Stores (the Army and Navy especially) sell large quantities. The “7d a pound New Zealand cheese ” is, in fact, becoming a speciality at the Army and Navy Stores. All I wonder is, what does the exporter get per pound for it ? The New Zealand butter, on the contrary, continues a failure. Often the quality is, or has been, good ; but it’varip* in colour, condition, and make up tb it purcha er* a e often very dissatisfied. For exarap'e, a butter-

nun buys, say, 20 kegs or tuba (or whatever you call them) of New Zealand butter. f Jhe sample he tasted suited him exactly, but he finds that the kegs are not uniform in colour and other essentials with the sample. The butter may be good enough, but them is not enough salt in it, or too much salt in it, to suit his customers, or the colour too nearly resembles margarine. The consequence is that ha is d'ssatisficd, and eschews New Zealand butter for the future. The difficulties in the way of the trade are, however, such as a few experts will no doubt smooth away, and once New Zealand dairy produce gets a good name with our retailors its future is assured. Since writing the foregoing I learn that Sir I\ D. Bell is trying to get Professor Long himself to visit New Zealand and inquire into the dairy produce question. At present the Professor has not said “ Yes ” or “No ” definitely. Much, indeed, will depend on whether the Minister of Agriculture Bill is passed through the Parliament this session or during the coming autumn one, as he is almost certain to be the first person selected to fill this important office.