AUSTRALIA’S FOOD

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 May 1942, Page 6

AUSTRALIA’S FOOD

WIDESPREAD RESEARCH CANNING OFVEGETABLES (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) (Recd. 11.55 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 20. For the first time in its history, Australia is gravely concerned about something it has always taken for granted—its food. The Commonwealth Food Council, set up to ensure that Australia’s food resources are used to the best advantage, is now holding its first sitting. The Commonwealth has plenty of food while the war lasts, according to the. Federal Supply Minister (Mr. Beasley)—if its Nooci resources are used right.” The problem of the right use of those resources has been exercising the best scientific brains in Australia. “If the war has done nothing else, it has given us tremendously valuable knowledge of drying, storing, _ and canning our foods,” says an official of the Food Preservation Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. For instance, before the war vegetable canning was only in its infancy. Now Australia is canning not only the peas of pre-war days, but potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, beetroot, spinnach, silverbeet —and is canning them well. All this has involved a great deal of research. Vegetables differ in their reaction to canning. The linings of the tins must be varied to suit the vegetables to be preserved. The same vegetables, grown in different climatic conditions, require different treatments. Researches have also been made as to the dehydration of foods. Cabbages, onions, carrots, parsnips, and potatoes have been preserved and carried m weight reduced in their natural rorm, the ratio being as high as 21. The dissicating methods are now so thorough that 35 sheep boiled down are being packed in a gasoline drum

—without loss of vitamin or caloric content. Edibility is restored merely by the addition of boiling water. Australia is also investigating sea food resources, previously unexploited. It is estimated that the destruction of fish offal lost the Commonwealth 50,000 gallons of fish oil each year, worth £30,000. Treatment plants to secure this oil are to be erected. The food value of shark oil is now recognised. Oil is even being added to margarine used by the Commonwealth troops. The resources of the shark industry, with the addition of certain vitamins, are expected to supply all Australia’s needs for stock foods. After 18 months’ research, a Sydney firm is now undertaking the commercial production of agar-agar, a jelling substance widely used in food canning. Supplies made from seaweed previously came from Japan and the Philippines. Australian-made agar is held to have qualities superior to the imported article. Several effective substitutes have been found lor canned salmon, principally mackerel, kingfish and mullet. Salmon, which is now unprocurable, was formerly used as the basis of all Australian fish pastes. Experiments have also been made m fortifying and enriching foods, thus

increasing some valuable nutritive constituent already in the food. For ■instance, jam sent to prisoners of war in Germany is enriched by the addition of an anti-scorbutic vitamin,

vhich compensates for the lacic of vegetables.

Most important, the cultivation of the backyard vegetable garden, is held o be the key problem of Australia's 1 -.bod supplies. A campaign is now under way to ensure wider household planting of vegetables, as well as their correct preparation lor consumption in peace. Wastage of food values and

incorrect preparation methods are regarded as unfortunate, and have now become a matter of national importance. A nation-wide publicity drive , has been launched to ensure that no food values are wasted. Housewives

are advised to “eat what you can raw, steam what you must cook, and if you must boil some things, save the water for soup stock, and use the -.ops of vegetables. Even carrot and parsnip tops are good for soup. Before you throw away any food, be sure that it cannot be used.' 7 Even soldiers at suitable camps are to have their own vegetable gardens.

WHEAT FOR NEW ZEALAND.

(Rec. 2.5 p.m.) CANBERRA, May 20. The Minister of Commerce '(MT. Scully) announced in the House of Representatives, that the Commonwealth has conferred with the New Zealand Government about supplies of wheat from Australia. and satisfactory arrangements had been concludHo added that Nev/ Zealand's plan Was to make herself, as self-support-ing as possible in this commodity. The Minister ’was replying to a member who asked if negotiations nad been opened with New Zealand for the purchase of some Australian surplus wheat. COAL-MINES DISPUTES. CANBERRA, May 19. A recrudescence of coal-mine stoppages led to a further statement by the- Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, in the

House of Representatives to-day. He attacked both the mine owners and miners “for not subordinating their private interests to the welfare of the nation.” He declared that it was the coal-owners’ business to assist the Government in overcoming the irritations that were leading to the stoppages. He. nevertheless, he said, was appalled at some of the reasons that were advanced for those disputes on the coalfields. He declared: “I know enough about this business to understand that this is not a one-sided state of affairs—it never has been. Yet, I am satisfied that what is going on on the coalfields to-day has not the ordinary explanation of industrial disputes.” Mr. Curtin added that he was taking the unusual course of personally I investigating the cause of the coal disputes. He was consulting the miners’ representatives that day. He would hear the owners’ side of the case to-morrow. ANOTHER WAR-LOAN. SYDNEY, May 19. It has been announced that another £35,0005000 Commonwealth loan will be floated next month. GERMAN ESCAPEES. CANBERRA. May 19. The Minister of the Army, Mr. Forde, announced in the House of ' Representatives to-day. that the Gov- ' ernment had suspended from duty the ’ Camp Commandant at. the intern- ’ ment camp, from whore six Gorman 1 prisoners had escaped last week. All 1 of the escapees, 'he added, had been 1 recaptured. Mr. Forde explained that the Ger- ‘ mans had been engaged in wood- ' cutting in the Goulburn Valley in • Victoria. He emphasised the diffi- , culty of guarding prisoners of war , when they were employed outside of 1 their camps. The Army opposed the ( employment outside of the camps which was likely to lead to a revi- t sion of that policy.