CEREAL LABORATORY

Evening Star, Issue 19639, 19 August 1927, Page 12

CEREAL LABORATORY

mn TO FARMERS AND BAKERS SUPPORTED BY FARMERS' UNION At, ilie meeting yesterday of Urn Otago Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union it was decided that tin; executive support the proposal to establish a cereal products laboratory. The chairman (Mr I). M. Reid) explained that certain allowances were made from Lincoln College, which Mould assist the movement. The laboratory itself had been already provided tor. With regard to the establishment ot the laboratory, letters were received from .Distributors, Ltd., and the secretary of the committee set up to investigate the matter. Letters approving oT the suggestion Mere received also from the Crookston, Middle-march, Te 1-Jonka, ami the Tapanni branches. 'The secretary of (lie committee intimated that*a meeting would he held in Christchurch on August -1 to consider the matter further, and a delegate from each of the North, Mid, and South Canterbury Provincial executives would be present to represent the union’s interests. He asked lor the attitude of the farmers in this district towards the proposal. The chairman of the special committee- wrote stating that the farmers and bakers’ representatives on tbe committee bad agreed to tho proposal. The directors of Distributors, Ltd., also agreed that it was a capital idea, and would prove of groat advantage to the milling industry. The Northern Roller Milling Co. and Byeroft, Ltd., had also agreed to the scheme. It was hoped that they would have the approval of all members of Distributors, Ltd., and ho asked for local approval before August 24The circular states that, first of all, the. proposal was to establish and staff a laboratory capable of investigating the milling and baking qualities of various wheats, and the various technical processes that enter into the manufacture of flour and the baking of bread. Besides conducting research

iiililc class and other church activil"S’ NEW HEBRIDES. Tlio thanks of tho committee were recorded to Dr and Mrs J. T. Bowie for their help in tho production of a hymn book in tho language of tho Ambrimese. Tho Rev. 0. Michelscn wrote stating that their great worry of late has boon to keep back their aggressive grogselling neighbors. He says: “ They are trying to get a footing near every village on the island.” hi another letter he refers to one trader who, he says. “ is making a desperate effort to drown Tougoa with his grog.” Strong indignation was expressed at this state of affairs. and it was agreed to take all possible steps to keep the need for reform before the authorities.

into those matters it was hoped that the laboratory would be able to make tests of samples of wheats and flours for millers and bakers, and advise as to the best methods of manufacture and the best blends for the best results. The time would come when tho farmers would get their wheat tested at tho laboratory, and sell it on the certificate of grade which they would receive from it, thus doing away with a great deal of discontent among growers, duo to tho present method, (or want of methodl in grading. The laboratory was particularly necessary to Dr Hilgendorf, of Lincoln College, in his plant • breeding work. The only difficulty in establishing such a laboratory was one of finance, and this would bo overcome if farmers would agree lo pay their proportion by the very small deduction from their wheat cheques proposed. This would average about half-a-eruwn for each grower, or less than a penny per acre. Under tbe suggested scheme the farmers would pay one-sixth, the millers ono-sixth, tho bakers ono-sixth. and tho Government one-half. It had been decided that if millers and bakers would approve of contributing lid for every ton of flour they sold or bought, and the wlioatgroMers lid for every fifty bushels of wheat thev sold for milling, a sufficient sum would be available for tbe maintenance of a first-class laboratory.