CHEESE INDUSTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1938, Page 6

CHEESE INDUSTRY

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER OF FINANCE THE NEED OF PROTECTING SMALL FACTORIES By Telegraph—Pi-ess Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, June 22. A large and representative deputation of cheese manufacturers of the Manawatu and West Coast. Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and Bush districts waited on the Minister of Finance, the Hon W. Nash, this morning and placed before him various aspects ■ of the cheese-making industry, and the ■ fixing of the price for cheese for the 1 coming season. . The Minister’s reply to the repre- ■ sentations was that the industry as a I whole was of the greatest importance 1 from a national point of view and-s<j • proper relation between butter a""') • cheese, must be maintained. If cheese ‘ makers went wholly over to butter ’ the market would collapse and that would mean disaster for everyone. i The Government would keep before , them all considerations which main- ’ tained a balance between cheese and • butter. It was not a case of butter ‘ versus cheese, but of cheese and butter • side by side. I The deputation requested the Gov- • ernment that the price of cheese be •. fixed next season on a grade of 91J • to 92 points as some assistance toward ■ cheese suppliers receiving nearer 2d ■ a lb premium more than butter supl pliers. The deputation contended that i unless something was done to protect ! small cheese factories they would go , out of existence. i Mr Nash said that the Government I would do anything it could to enable factories to rise to a higher grade. • Cheese companies would get what they ; ought to have with regard to the 2d : a lb premium, but bonuses were not I favoured.