DEHYDRATED FOODS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 23, 21 October 1944, Page 6

DEHYDRATED FOODS

Request For Information. WORKS AT PUKEKOHE The cost of erecting the dehydration works at Pukekobe and of the plant and equipment was sought by Mr. Massey (Opposition, Franklin) during consideration of the vote for the Internal Marketing Department in the House yesterday. He also asked the amount paid for vegetables received at the works. Mr. Massey inquired if the Government had received any reports from experts from America who had visited the works. It would also be interesting to know the extent of the orders placed by Americans for dehydrated products. There had been adverse reports on the dehydrated foods and it seemed that now they were not looked ou as favourably as they were, and that the trend was in the way of a demand for canned commodities instead. Mr. Massey also asked the reason for the change to the quick-freeze process. There was obviously something wrong, and that dehydrated goods were not acceptable. It was evident that the site, buildings and plant at Pukekobe represented a cost of about £400,000. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, said he questioned whether the Minister of Marketing could give the information requested by Mr. Massey concerning the Pukekobe works. They were erected at the request of the Americans to ensure that certain products would be available for the Pacific area. There were details in connexion with lend-lease involved, but when the information asked for by the member for Franklin was available he would be glad to supply it to the House. The best time to do that would be on the War Expenses Account, from which payments for the works had been made. Mr. Roberts said there had been no reduction in orders from the American forces. Any change had not been made because of a failure, the quick-free machinery having been ordered at the same time as the dehydration plant. Mr. Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo) asked if there was any likelihood of the industry being carried on after the war. Mr. Nash: In some lines, yes; with others no.