PENICILLIN SUPPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24877, 26 April 1944, Page 4

PENICILLIN SUPPLY

DOMINION'S INTEREST

EXPERT FOR AUSTRALIA iO.C.) DARGAVILLE, Tu-sday The Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, announced to-day that the Government had decided to send to Australia the well-known Wellington pathologist, Dr. P. P. Lynch, for the purpose of investigating the possibility of manufacturing penicillin in New Zealand. "There are certain technical dimcul» ties in the manufacture of this substance which may be difficult to overcome but it will be Dr. Lynch s function to examine the facts closely and to report 011 the position.'' stated Mr. Nordmeyer. '"The beneficial effects of penicillin in certain cases are so marked that the Government feels that every avenue should be explored in order to increase the supply available. If it proved impracticable to manufacture it here efforts will be made to secure a regular supply from overseas, preferably from Australia." ' LOCAL AND GENERAL Vegetable Supplies Supplies of vegetables were again heavy at the City Markets on Monday, but the demand was only poor owing to the closing of shops yesterday. Lettuce was considerably dearer and realised os to 20s a case, compared with 2s to as at the end of last week. JThere was an increase in values of peas and beans, but pumpkins and cauliflowers were cheaper. Hundredweight Pumpkins The huge pumpkins, each weighing well over a hundredweight, have been brought to Auckland from Katikati by an officer of the Internal Marketing Division. Grown by Mr. G. Hill, a successful farmer 111" the district, which has long been famed for large pumpkins, they weigh 1401b. and 1311b. Although the name of the variety is not known, Mr. Hill's garden contains a large number of similar ones. <• Royal Portraits The presentation of coloured portraits of the King and Queeji and Princess Elizabeth to the Wellington branch of the Royal Society of St. George was an unexpected feature of the St. George's Day commenioration gathering of the branch. The United Kingdom High Commissioner in New Zealand, sir Harry Batterbee, who made the gift, said the portraits had only just reached him from London. He also presented to the society a new book, "Men of Action," which told the story of the naval commanders of to-day. Inferior Milk A summary of 185 milk samples taken in Auckland city and suburbs by Health Department officers during March and submitted to the Metropolis tan Milk Council on Monday showea that, although the average butter-fav content" was 4.87 per cent, 23 samples had failed to comply with the standardAir. R. B. Stonex complained that as the figure included check samples taken in cases under suspicion, it showed ® unfair proportion of inferior milk W the tests. His suggestion that the council should ask the Health Department for Teasons why any samples did comply with requirements was adopto*Land Sales Procedure The necessity for submitting all'information on valuations of property 5 and chattels was emphasised by tiie chairman of the Auckland Urban La lll Sales Committee, Mr. \Y. R. Tuck, at < sitting on Monday. In two cases list* for hearing counsel stated that they relied 011 their clients to arrang for valuations to be submitted and were unaware that none had been receivedMr. Tuck said the cases would probab. have to be adjourned for from f°. ur six weeks as It would be impractica to bring them on again before otne» listed. The delay not only inconvenienced the committee, but would a>• impede the hearing of other cases. Dairy Industry Pay-out The prospective pay-out by dairy companies under the guaranteed price cli ino; the corning season was discussed the chairman of the Dairy Board, i. • W. E. Hale, at the ward conference at Wiiangarei on Monday. The final p, out for the average butter factory 1942-43 was 16.569 d per lb. butt«-i»£ Mr. Hale stated. To this had to d added approximately Id farm and *- torv cost allowance and then Lila> , present wage cost allowance, pins _ Government's share of the calf su - equal to approximately O.lld an , increased payment for pig me! H s Aj- a ] to approximately 0.27 d. I hus , j , r i ng equivalent pavment to be made - the 1944-45 season shoutt increaseMgj average butter factory supplier . payment to about 19.159 d P«r butt«p-f»t.