GRADING OF PRODUCE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 13 March 1913, Page 3

GRADING OF PRODUCE

BUTTER AND GRAIN. evidence before the Dominions Royal Commission on Tuesday, Mr E. Clifton, Director of the Ex- ' perimental Farms Division of the DeI partment of Agriculture, stated, in reply to the chairman, that the whole | question of grading of produce was I under review. It was .impossible w> expect that grain should, be delivered, in London in the same condition as it was placed on board ship in New Zealand, owing to the dampness. They always expected a certain number of complaints from London. Another thing that led to friction, of the standard in New Zealand. The standard' of oats might ibe different in different years; here it is fixed by the (Chambers of Commerce each season. To .Mr iCaiihipbell: There might be a disposition to fix the standard more in the interests of buyers than in 'he general interest. They were not in a position to follow up the oats here or in London; after the .grain had passed the graders, it was out of the department's .hands. To 'Sir Alfred Batsman: Grading of oats was more important than that of wheat, not very much of the latter being exported. The dairy produce was important beyond' all the rest for grading. New Zealand butter did not as » rule fetch so much as the Danish in London ; perhaps the Danes had learnt how to market it better. To Mr Sinclair: There had been complaints that the periodical fixings of standard® did not go forward promptly. REGULAR SUPPLIES. To Mr Tatlovr: He did not incline to the view that the reason why Danish butter was more successful in London was that the supplies were regular alii the year round. Mr Tatlow thoiigiht that this was one important reason. To the chairman : He had no pamphlet which described in succinct form the system of grading, but there were various regulations for the grading of dairy produce and flax. The chairman: I think New Zealand leads the world in this respect? Mr Clifton : I think we do. The chairanan: It would be interesting to the world' to know witoat fciie whole system is!