Peppermint Possibility

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31782, 12 September 1968, Page 1

Peppermint Possibility

(From Our Own Reporter)

GREYMOUTH, Sept. 11. Mr F. van Gur Elst, a botanist at the Ruakura Animal Research station, is interested in the growing of mint for the manufacture of peppermint and believes the West Coast is the most suitable area. In a telephone conversa-

.tion with the West Coast public relations officer (Mr D. P. Lydford) yesterday, Mr van Gur Elst said he was prepared to come to the West Coast and talk to the farmers about growing of the mint.

Mr Lydford, who has taken considerable interest in the proposal for some time, said he was concerned at the lack of interest being shown by West Coast farmers. An estimated value of the return was $5O an acre, and the scheme had the potential to earn as much as $200,000 a year in overseas exchange. Australia imported all its peppermint and the United States imported a considerable quantity. The Japanese Embassy in Wellington has expressed interest in helping to establish a tea industry on the West Coast.

In a reply to a letter from Mr Lydford seeking advice on the project, the embassy has offered to supply tea seeds suitable for cooler weather.