SEARCH FOR AGAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22198, 7 December 1946, Page 6

SEARCH FOR AGAR

GISBORNE BEACHES PROMISING SOURCES INSPECTION BEING MADE The search for agar is being continued on the Gisborne and East Coast beaches by the agar field officer of the Internal Marketing Department, Hastings, Mr. K. Karaitiana, who has arrived at Gisborne and intends to spend several days here. Particular attention is to be given by Mr. Karaitiana to the Wainui and Tatapouri beaches, which have been indicated to him as promising sources of the weed. He will be visiting the beaches south of Young Nick’s Head and north to Whangarn, and intends to return after Christmas to work north of Whangara,

Another area he intends to visit after Christmas is the Mahia Peninsula and Portland Island.

“For the purpose of producing penicillin New Zealand agar lias become recognised as the standard all the world over,” said Mr. Karaitiana, referring to its Vise in bacteriological cultures for diagnosis and investigation -of the treatment of many diseases. “We have the world’s market and cannot get sufficient to supply the overseas demand. Unlimited quantities are wanted.

“We ate now exporting to America, England, Australia, India, and South Africa and could export to the rest of the world if we had the supplies. India is a very big customer, as are other large countries where efforts are being made to stamp out disease.” Mr. Karaitiana said that people who have handled agar previously should now find their returns slightly increased. The rate was £ll2 per ton for clean weed delivered to the depot at Hastings. Previously it was necessary for the pickers of this district to send their consignments to Auckland and higher freight charges had had to be met. From Hastings the agar was sent to Christchurch for processing by a manufacturing firm in that city. The finished product was similar in appearance to gelatine crystals.