DEVELOPMENT OF EMPIRE RESOURCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17104, 8 September 1917, Page 5

DEVELOPMENT OF EMPIRE RESOURCES.

WORK OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. , A report co the work of the Imperial Institute, presented to the new Executive Council, lows that the various Special and Technical Committees established under tho Imperial Institute Act of last year are now actively at work "Investigations have been completed into the composition, value, and commercial prospects oi a variety of raw materials, derived from no fewer than 24 countries in the Overseas Empire. In addition a number of confidential investigations on raw materials were conducted *»!• the War Trade Department, tho Minis-sc-j t-i Munitions, and other departments directly concerned with the conduct of the war.

Many of tho materials examined promise to be useful to British manufacturers, and to find a ready market if produced in oommorcial quantities, whilst others may form the basis of new undertakings in the countries themselves. Those materials are considered by the Special Committees which have been formed for each dominion, as well as by the Haw Materials Committee, ■which includes representatives of the principal Chambers of Commerce In Egypt increased attention is being given to flax-growing. The area under cultivation has been extended, and new seed has been introduced. A sample of Egyptian flax straw examined yields about 24° per cent of soft, fairly lustrous fibre, which was valued in March by flax spinners in Belfast at from £200 to £220 per ton. Aa snowing the rise of prices owing to the war, it may be mentioned that hi normal times such flax would bo worth less than £60 per ton. As is well known, the bulk of the cotton grown in India b of short staple and unsuitable for use in Lancashire. In recent years, however, Borne attention hae been given to the improvement of Indian cotton, and a number of improved varieties have been established and are being produced in commercial quantities. Typical samples of these improved kinds have been examined at the Imperial Institute. Out of 11 samples, eight were found to bo suitable for use in Lancashire and saleable in Manchester at prices ranging from Id to 2d per lb off tho current value for American cotton. Samples of copra from Queensland were found to be of good quality, and were valued in London early in the year at £43 10s to £44 per ton, cjuf. Supplies of similar quality should be readily saleable. This is the second sample of Queensland copra recently examined at the Imperial Institute, and the results effectively dispose of the statements that have been made that Queensland copra is of poor quality. At the suggestion of .the Imperial Institute cultivation trials have been carried out in Seychelles with the " ajowan" plant and tho " mosquito " plant as sources of the antiseptics thymol, which used to be imported from Germany, the seed necessary for these trials having been specially procured and sent to Seychelles by the Imperial Institute. Samples have recently been received at the institute both of ajowan seed grown in Seychelles and of oil distilled in the colony from the mosquito plant. On analysis both products have given satisfactory yield of tbymoL An important discovery has been • made which closely affects the prosperity of Zanzibar. Both that island and the island of Pemba are largely dependent on their clove plantations. In the last few years the trees have been attacked by a disease which could not be traced to any fungus or insect pest. As a result of- the examination at the Imperial Institute of soils in which affected trees were growing, it has been found that the soils have become acid and deficient .in lime and phosphates through neglect of cultivation, and appropriate remedial measures have been suggested by the institute for trial. The Technical Information Bureau of the Imperial Institute has dealt with inquiries from and relating to almost every part of the Empire. At the request of British manufacturers, steps have been taken to ascertain the prospects of within the Empire cocoa of the Guayaquil type, which is extensively used for the preparation of chocolate on account of its characteristic strength and aroma. Samples of the two principal types of Guayaquil cocoa imported have been distributed to tho interested colonies, and a large firm of manufacturers has offered to support any. attempts to produce such cocoa within the Empire by giving regular orders for supplies. In Sooth Australia a proposal has been put forward, for the installation of a mill to make paper and cardboard from cereal straw, large quantities of* which are available in that State, but are at present burnt by the farmers. The institute has furnished comments on the scheme," and lias supplied information as to a new process for the production of paper from straw, together with samples oi the paper and the cost of plant required In view of the present scarcity of potash owing to the stoppage of supplies from Germany, attempts axe being made to utilise other available sources of potash, including the waste from wool washing. Information as to the various processes of extracting potash from wool has been supplied to South Africa, and the possibilities in Australia and New Zealand are also receiving attention.

In the Public Exhibition galleries of the institute considerable has been made in improving and extending the collections, and arrangements are in progress for a new court for Egypt. In addition to the general and educational uses made of the collections, samples have been furnished to agricultural institutions of the newer seeds and nuts employed in the manufacture of feeding cakes for animals.