NEW ZEALAND RENNET CO.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3117, 22 June 1917, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND RENNET CO.

ANNUAL MEETING. By Telegraph-Special Reporter. Palmerston North, Juno 20. The annual meeting of tho New-Zea-land Itennct Company was held at tho Show Grounds this evening. Mr. H. D. Forsyth, Elthani, presided. The chairman, in a review of tho year, said: "Tho directors regrot that, in spite of having spent much time and thought on the ronuet problem, it cannot bo claimed that this has been solved. Tho directors wore faced with two problems—first, a supply of veils; secondly, the manufacture of these into rennet. Every factory iu New Zealand was circularised and urged io save the veils. The Live Stock Diyiion undertook to give the necessary instruction . regarding the handling of the same, and the thanks of tho company are duo to the many officers of this Division for the assistance given, and especially to Jlr. Munro, the inspector in charge in Wellington. The supply of veils has been very disappointing, only-' 25,623 having been collected, and, on an estimate of twelve veils to a. gallon of rennet, this represents only 2135 gallons,, whdreas 30,000 gallons aro required to supply New Zealand. Through Mr. Ellison, lite representative of' the National Association in London, every effort was made to get into touch with an expert for Now Zealand, but the price asked, not only for the services of an expert, but for plant, was so excessive that they deemed it wise to decline tho offer until it was clear that anything like an adequate supply of veils was assured. It was then decided.'to send tho veils to England to bo ■manufactured into rennet. The rennet from tho first, shipment of .veils is now on its way to New Zealand. Unfortunately.72oo veils wero lost on the s.s. Itolorua when this steamer was torpedoed in the English. Channel. The position regarding rennet is, of course, nothing like so acute as it was when tho company was formed, as the use of pepsin has become general and the results nave been very satisfactory.- Reports from experts, however, indicate that it is advisable to use rennet in conjunction with pepsin to get the best results, and the directors would therefore urge upon shareholders and others the necessity of saving all veils. The stock officers aro of the opinion that the company only received 10 per cent, of tho veils from the' calves which were actually slaughtered. All the meatfreezing companies throughout New Zenland have been approached with a view i to saving lambs' veils for next season, as it is beliove<l they are of value for reniiet-iuiiking. Unfortunately, owing to the scarcityof labour, none of the freezing companies aro inclined to look favourably on this project, and take up the attitude that the return from savins lambs' veils does not compensate them for the labour involved. A number of experiments are now being carried on in connection with (ho local manufacture, as it is recognised that it is very dcsir r able that tho veils should not leave New Zealand. Tho working of tho company up to tho present has represented practically nothing but expenditure, ami until tho rennet is sold there is really no -revenue. The total number of shares applied for and allotted is 14,473. on which 431833 7s. fid. has been paid." Mr. J. S. M.'l\av was elected Io Ino directorate, and Mr. W. Fisher (Carterton) and Mr. H. D. Irorsylh (Elthnm) were re-clouted.