DEHYDRATION OF VEGETABLES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24740, 4 December 1945, Page 4

DEHYDRATION OF VEGETABLES

RICCARTON FACTORY TO CLOSE

MAJORITY OF STAFF GIVEN NOTICE

The Internal Marketing Division’s vegetable dehydration factory in Riccarton is to close down on December 21. It is not known whether the factory will be reopened later, but most of the employees have been notified that their services will be dispensed with on that date. About 100 women and 40 men are employed at present on the dehydration of potatoes. The factory began full-scale production on July 21 last year, and since then has dehydrated millions of pounds of fresh carrots, cabbages, and potatoes, nearly all grown in Canterbury. About 386 tons of dehydrated vegetables were supplied to the United Slates Joint Purchasing Board for shipment to American forces in the Pacific. In July this year the factory was closed temporarily because of lack of supplies. It reopened on September 10, and after carrots had been dehydrated to complete a contract for the United States Joint Purchasing Board the processing of potatoes was begun. The potatoes now being processed are the surplus above civilian requirements from this year’s crop. More than 70 tons of dehydrated potatoes have been produced, but they have not been shipped away, and no indication has been given as to what will be done with them. Since the factory completed its contract for the supply of dehydrated vegetables to the United States Joint Purchasing Board there has been some speculation regarding the continuance of the plant and its future ownership. The Canterbury Trades and Labour Council has urged the Government to use the factory as a State-operated cannefy, and also has published a pamphlet entitled “Food for Thought, 1 ’ which was prepared by a small group of men interested in food production and supports Government control in food production and distribution. Reference to the future of dehydrated fruit and vegetables has also been made in “Consumer News,’’ the pamphlet issued by. the Government Economic Information Service. An article says that “the Internal Mapketing Division, which built and controls the Dominion’s dehydration factories, believes the product of these factories will be used after the war mainly as canned goods have been used in the past—for variety and in household emergencies.”

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

POTENTIAL OVERSEAS DEMAND

“REPLIES NOT ENCOURAGING” (From Cur Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, December 3. The Minister of Marketing (the Hon. B. Roberts) said to-day that whether the closing down of the Riccarton dehydration factory would be permanent was not yet detei mined, and would depend almost entirely on the response from potential overseas buyers of dehydrated vegetables. So far, replies from such bodies as UNRRA, the Netherlands East Indies, and the British military forces were not encouraging, Mr Roberts said, and sufficient stocks were in hand in different parts of New Zealand to meet any orders which might be received in ’the near future. “Dehydration has been strictly a wartime activity; but the Internal"‘Marketing _ Division is investigating and experimenting to see jvhether' there was any serious demand 'on the local market, in New Zealand) or nearby islands,” Mr Roberts said. “Supplies of labour for seasonal work and permanent industry are at present in heavy demand, and there should be no difflcuffy for the staff, in conjunction with the National Employment Service, in finding useful work. Some will be required for maintaining the 'plant and equipment in good order, should it be necessary to open again at short notice.