TESTING WHEAT FOR QUALITY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28792, 13 January 1959, Page 11

TESTING WHEAT FOR QUALITY

South Canterbury View

Applying the Zeleny or baking score test to all wheat samples received would appear to be changing the rules at the eleventh hour and would be met with resentment by growers and brokers alike, said Mr W. J. Fletcher, at a meeting of Mid-Canterbury, South Canterbury a-d North Otago wheatgrowers and representatives of milling firms and the Grain and Seed Merchants’ Association at Timaru. The meeting was called to discuss wheat storage and delivery and the Zeleny test.

Mr F. J. Henshaw, the chairman of the Dominion Agricultural Section of Federated Farmers, said that strenuous .efforts during the last few weeks had resulted in a personal interview being arranged with the Minister of Industries and Commerce for February 5. By that time a considerable quantity of wheat would be available for delivery or storage. Representatives of milling firms said that the introduction of the Zeleny test was not of their seeking and before receiving a circular from the Wheat Research Institute they had known nothing about It. They intended to make use of the test for wheat classification purposes but, irrespective of test results, they would buy their wheat on f.a.q. standards. Storage would also be available to farmers on the basis of the charges recently quoted on which no finality had been reached at Government level

The meeting unanimously agreed to ask the Minister of Industries and Commerce to receive a delegation at an early date.

Mr Hullett’s Comment Commenting on the report of the meeting the Director of the Wheat Research Institute,, Mr E. W. Hullett, said that the institute had told merchants and millers that the Zeleny testing service would be available to them. The millers had decided to ask brokers to submit all wheat samples for testing before they were offered to mills. Apparently this procedure was being followed in the Christchurch district but it was for the Timaru millers to decide what they wanted to do in their- district.

“I am pleased to learn that they do intend to have their wheats tested before using them as this will lead to the best use of the wheat and will prevent the lowest quality lines from damaging flour quality," said Mr Hullett. "Our aim is to give the consumer the best bread and the bakers are very anxious about the possible effect of Arawa on flour quality.” “I think that practical experience of the application of the Zeleny test will show that most of the fears expressed by farmers and others will have little basis. The tests can be made very quickly and ways can be found to keep the total time between the dispatch of the sample and the receipt of the report short enough for practical purposes,” said Mr,Hullett