QUALITY OF FLOUR

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25269, 22 August 1947, Page 3

QUALITY OF FLOUR

EFFORTS TO IMPROVE BREAD MEETING OF WHEAT RESEARCH COMMITTEE Efforts to improve the quality of flour in the baking of bread by experiment, investigation, and scientific analysis were iflspected yesterday at the Wheat Research Institute by members of the institue committee. The chief chemist, Mr E. W. Hullett, said that when the wheat scarcity was overcome the 80 per cent, extraction rate would be removed, and the question of what should be done regarding the future would arise. To prepare for this the institute had taken up a study of the composition and properties of 80 per cent, extraction mill streams, to gather information on the relative contribution the various flour streams made to vitamin content, crumb darkening, baking quality, and flour extraction. It was a combination of service and research work. Several members of the committee expressed the opinion that if the institute succeeded in improving the quality of flour, about which all bakers were worried, bakers would be extremely pleased. • The report for the period April 16 to July 31, presented to the committee, said that the director of the newly founded New South Wales Bread Research Institute, spent aboux a fortnight at the institute in June. For part of that time he was accompanied by Mr L. Judge, a member of he management committee. “It was very pleasing to us that this contact should be established so rapidly and firmly. We look forward to continued cooperation.”

Two days during their visit were spent making comparisons of the test-baking methods. In spite of important difference in method, the two classifications differed only slightly. In • testing methods, it was intended to collaborate as closely as circumstances permitted. The New South Wales Institute would closely resemble the Christchurch section in organisation, except that much Jess attention would be devoted to milling. It was decided to continue with the work of publishing the 1947 Wheat Review, and a 48-page journal was recommended. The chief executive officer, Dr. O. H. Frankel, said that the cost of printing 3800 copies would be £lB5.

The chairman, Mr R. J. Lyon, said that trials had been commenced for the establishing of the premium to be paid for the growing of Hilgendorf wheat. It was necessary to get the corlect amount of premium sq as to induce growers to take a healthy interest in the wheat. “I think we have a wheat which is a very great improvement on anything we have had so far. It would be a pity. for it to be spoilt through lack of interest by growers,” said Mr Lyon. When the results of the 1 trials were available he felt sure he would be able to come to some agreewith the authorities regarding lhe premium. A letter from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research said ’hat tentative agreement had been & lven £ o U Dr ; Frank el to represent New Zealand at the congress of genetics to be held at Stockholm in August, 1948.