SEAWEED IN INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23740, 11 September 1942, Page 4

SEAWEED IN INDUSTRY

USE OF NEW ZEALAsNDj CARRAGEEN ( (P.S.S.) WELLINGTON. Sept, 10/ ■War, whick inevitably intenerw with normal markets and sources » supply, is doing a great deal imwecHg. to stimulate the fuller exploitation 0* New Zealand’s natural resource* Among these resources is seaweed. « The 'development of the local ag» industry, which uses a species or sea ■weed known as pterocladia lucida, . already been recorded. But New land has other valuable seaweflg among them certain species otptr tina, otherwise known as carrageen!. Carrageen produces a smooth jtgfc . palatable and useful as a food, BW y/ used for many other purposes. for instance, found in skin cough mixtures, toothpastes and n*Ws|; class glues. It is ing leatlier, in thfe / palnt inOusWy>«jß in some bytWdries as a clearlng;Bg«»‘. The/west coast of Ireland is . . malar source of Britain's supply, formerly also met New Zeatenas.W-.-"quirements. Steadily increasing have been found for carrageen, DO ' ever, and the supply has becamesufficient to meet the demand. T»e w intensified the shortage and . overseas supplies practically unomf*? t j able by New Zealand. ilthef - The weed grows I ,, coast of Southland and and residents there have lected it for home use, making," it a milk jelly, which is saidAW^|| delicious. In the last year, many of them have begun COUWw«j|| to fill the needs of Dominion CM®"|jl|| and manufacturing firms. Ar« J^ ve || 9d per lb for the dried weed tney . ,:,a found it a profitable It is understood that supph®* || this source are sufficient for if market, but it is possible port trade may yet be Jufc || Commercial firms in ® ain and the United States of have heard about New weed and have written to tOß saLtiM S Division of the Plant || Bureau, asking for particuiarSi. have been supplied. •