WHEAT RESEARCH

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 4 May 1928, Page 5

WHEAT RESEARCH

NEW INSTITUTE PLANNED EXPERIMENTAL FLOUR MILL. THE PROPOSED STAFF. (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO "THE STAB.”) WELLINGTON, May 3. * The valuable Avork planned! by the Wheat Research Institute Avhich is being established in Canterbury was outlined to the executive of the Farmers’ Union by Mr W. W. Mulholland,- of Darfield. He explained that a number of fanner® and others had combined? in Canterbury and had proceeded, with the co-operation of the Department of Scientific Research, in’ establishing a wheat research institute, and on the previous day in Christchurch the council had been completed. On the council mere representatives of the wheatgrowers, flour millers, grain growers, baker®, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Scientific Research. A small levy wa® to be imposed! on flour, payable by millers and bakers, and this was to be adjusted, so as to make the payment about Id per bushel. This the GoA r erninent Avould subsidise to the extent of £1 for £l. The objects fo the institute were, by means of scientific research and urvestigation, to improve the method of growing Avheat. to devise and test mixtures of - wheat .to use in milling in order to get tte best possible flour. The institute could help the baking trade in such questions as development of fungi in flour and ascertaining its strength, so as to maintain a definite standard. Baker® had many technical difficmltieis, which required profound scientific investigations, in aiming at getting at a uniformly good loaf. An institute staff Avas in process of appointment. It would, probably include a very highly qualified cereal chemist, Avith the necessary assistance, and also of possibly a cereal expert, who woud have change of the practical part c£ the Avorks. The institute had made arrangements for establishing a laboratory in Christchurch, and it had also certified a considerable quantity of seed wheat as coming up to a high standard of purity and grade. This Avould be available for distribution among farmers. The grain merchants in the South Island were heartily co-operating with the cereal institute and they had a representative on the council. Amongst the, apparatus required would be an experimental flour mill for the purpose of testing the wheats of the Dominion and' determining, both for farmers and bakers, the milling quality and value of particular samplas. It was therefore hoped that presently the institute Avould be in a position to advise 'definitely on the value of particular samples and to devise grades whereby thev oould be definitely classified, instead of the- present rather approximate methods. The institute Avould be able to determine for millers the most economical mixtures of wheat necessary to produce the best quality flour. _ Tba whole of the work would result in improving the Avheat- offered, reducing Losses and expenses of milling, improving the qua'ity of flour, and finally improving A'ery considerably the loaf produced,~and at the same time,. by improAnng all methods from the soil to the breakfast table, cheapen the cost of the loaf. Mr. Mnlhcillnnd .stressed the point that there would be no overlapping of departments a® a result of the institute’s AA'ork, because it Avas closely cooperating with Lincoln College and the Department of Agriculture.