OILS AND FATS PRODUCTION

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26511, 28 August 1951, Page 10

OILS AND FATS PRODUCTION

SCOPE FOR INCREASE SEEN

More than one-third of the world experts of butterfat comes from New Zealand, making the Dominion the largest exporter in the world, according to the information bureau of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Wellington. “Although ths production of fats and oils a head of population is more than three times that of the United States and the total tonnage of fats and oils production is two and a half times that of the United Kingdom (excluding whale oil), there is much scope for bigger production,” the report adds. A survey was made recently by the director of the fats research laboratory of the D.S.I.R. (Dr. F. B. Shetland) of fats and oils together with their economic significance to New Zealand. It is estimated that the main exports to the Dominion, consisting of butter, cheese, meat, and wool considered collectively contain about 39 per cent, fat, 28 per cent, water and 22.5 per cent, protein. “On a dry matter basis our main exports contain 54 per cent, fat and 31 per cent, protein, but considering foodstuffs only (on the same basis) it is 71.7 per cent, fat and 16.5 per cent, protein (i.e„ most of the export protein comes from wool).

“Fats and oils have a considerable importance to New Zealand industry and there is much scope for development. In 1949-50 the baking and confectionery, the paint and varnish, and the soap and candle industries together used 17,787 tons of fat to the cost of £1,457,291 to yield products of value at nearly £10.000.000. “New Zealand still imports substantial quantities of oils and fats amounting in 1949 to over 1.000,000 gallons and costing £BOO,OOO. In spite of the local fish liver oil industry with its considerable export market. New Zealand continues to import this commodity to nearly the same extent as it did in pre-war times when there was no local industry. The leather industry imports a variety of oils but it has been shown by the New Zealand Leather and Shoe Research Association that some of the oils produced in New Zealand could be adapted to take the place of these imported oils.” In relation to population, fat and oil production in New Zealand was by far the greatest in the world, but it could still be increased by the development of the industries based on fats as the demand had never been greater than it was at present. "Wool grease is one of the instances that might offer some possibilities as the future world demand for crude wool grease as an anti-corrosive is likely to be considerable and New Zealand could produce 17,500 tons of it."