WHEAT RESEARCH INSTITUTE’S WORK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 24 December 1928, Page 11

WHEAT RESEARCH INSTITUTE’S WORK.

COMMITTEE INSPECTS NEW LABORATORY.

A meeting of the Wheat Research Institute Committee was held on Thursday at Canterbury College; present— Professor H. G. Denham (chairman), Messrs R. J. Lyon, R. K. Ireland, W. S. Pratt, D. Colquhoun, A. Jones, C. E. Boon, F. H. Hawker, T. S. Searle, J. Carr, W. W. Mulholland, C. J. Talbot. J. W. Hadfield, Dr F. W. Hilgendorf and Mr F. R. Callaghan.

The committee inspected the laboratory which has been fitted up in Montreal Street to deal with the milling, baking and chemical tests required in connection with the’ research programme. General satisfaction was expressed with the suitability of the laboratory for the work proposed, the rooms being well lighted and well equipped with benches, gas, water and electricity.

Negotiations are proceeding to secure the use of the Allis-Chalmers experimental flourmill from the Department of Agriculture for the work of the laboratory, and a complete set of the necessary chemical and baking equipment has been ordered. When this arrives, early in the coming year, the laboratory will be fully equipped to commence active testing operations upon the samples already secured, together with those available from the present season’s crops.

The director, Dr Hilgendorf, reported that as the result of additional assistance made available by the committee he had been enabled to complete a considerably extended number of crossfertilisations during the recent flowering period. As this would mean extra work during the harvesting season, he asked for authority to engage temporary assistance at this period also, and this was approved.

It was decided to seek affiliation with the British Flourmillers’ Research Association during the coming year, in order to participate in the information available from the research work conducted under Dr Fisher in the laboratories at St Albans.

Mr Hadfield submitted a report showing the position in regard to wheat crops entered for certification during the present season. While the area was in general sufficient to provide for possible requirements, it was regretted that the area of Velvet entered was so small. Arrangements had been made to supply all purchasers of certified wheat seed with particulars of the seed by attachment of a special note to all invoices. As an indication of the interest taken in certified seed, the demand for it during the past sowing season had exceeded the supply. The desirability of a gradual raising of the standard of the crops which received certificates was emphasised by several members. Dr Bailey, of Minnesota, U.S.A., had offered to supply a card index giving a record of all wheat and flour investigations made for a number of years past in the various research institutes of the world.

Dr Denham indicated that this in* . dex would facilitate the work of the Institute and Dr Bailey’s offer was accepted. A draft constitution and rules for the committee, submitted by the secretary of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. was considered and adopted after slight alterations. A copy of a report upon the wheat and flour position was circulated to the committee by courtesy of the Director-General of Agriculture. Mr R. K. Ireland objected strongly to the conclusions reached regarding the number of bushels required to produce a ton of flour and he considered that the Department’s attention should be drawn to the matter.

Mr Searle, president of the Master Bakers’ Federation, stated that marked improvement was apparent in the flour made from last season’s wheat and that bakers were experiencing little difficulty in producing from it bread of a satisfactory standard.

Attention was drawn to the fact that North Island papers were interpreting certain remarks made by Dr Hilgendorf to a meeting of North Canterbury farmers to mean that it was not possible to produce good quality bread from locally-grown wheat. Dr Hilgendorf explained that*he was urging farmers to improve the quality as well as the yield of the grain. Improvement in quality was always worth striving for, and he had no intention of conveying the impression that locally-grown wheat was incapable of producing good flour. This was contrary to fact and he was preparing a statement for the Press which would make the position perfectly clear. The Director submitted a programme of work for the year and considerable discussion- ensued upon the details of the investigations proposed. These included extension of the variety trials, further certification and wheat breeding work. A detailed survey of the quality of the wheat produced in different districts would be made by systematic analysis of a large number of samples collected in each district by officers of the Institute, the Department of Agriculture and Lincoln College. This survey would indicate possible causes of variation in the Gluten content of wheat and would serve as a valuable guide to farmers and millers. Investigations of a statistical nature would be inaugurated to determine the influence of meteorological conditions upon crop yields, in order to provide a possible basis for forecasting yields. The programme was approved. Professor Denham stated that Mr West, who had been appointed chemist to the Institute, had been busy since his arrival in preparing the laboratory and getting acquainted with the local conditions which would affect his future work. Negotiations were proceeding to secure the services of Dr Frankel to assist in the wheat breeding work proposed. Dr Frankel had received his training under Britain’s foremost plant breeder. Sir Rowland Biffen, who had also strongly recommended his appointment. It was decided that steps be taken to secure the services of a cadet and of a part-time typiste to assist in the work of the laboratory. The question of the terms of appointment of student assistants was discussed and it was decided to make provision for such appointments under certain conditions to be drawn up by Drs Denham and Hilgendorf. In view of the additional number of experimental lots of wheat to be threshed this year the Director was authorised to secure a smafl threshing outfit. Accounts totalling £636 were passed for payment and estimates of expenditure for the year were considered and approved. The date of the next meeting w'as fixed for Thursday, March 21, 1929.

crashed into the rear of a stationary train at Seven Hills. One carriage was badly smashed. Again nobody was injured. This accident was the result of disorganisation caused by the first mishap. Eye-witnesses declare that it was miraculous that many were not killed. —Australian Press Association. Sentence Commuted. SYDNEY, December 23. Cabinet decided to commute to eighteen months’ imprisonment the sentence of death imposed on Martin Jacobsen for criminal assault on a girl. It was never anticipated that the death sentence would be allowed to stand. Cabinet to-day had before it an affidavit by a doctor, stating that he found that marks on the girl’s body were not consistent with the story of a struggle. The Premier, Mr Bavin, in a statement, said that in view of accused’s previous good character and the strong recommendation to mercy made by the jury, it had been decided to commute the sentence to eighteen months’ imprisonment.

The case aroused great interest, the whole populace , of Woy Woy being up in arms against what it considered was a severe sentence.—Australian Press Association.

The Full Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal by Jacobsen. The case caused a great stir, owing to an allegation that the girl, who was formerly Jacobsen’s fiancee, was a consenting party. Radio Telephone. LONDON, December 22. The correspondent of “The Times” at The Hague states that the Dutch Post Office announces that telephone calls to Australia were most successful. Incoming calls came via a transmitting station in the Dutch East Indies. The Post Office also announces the conditions for a public telephone from Holland to the Dutch East Indies, opening on January B.—Times Cables. Boxing in Sydney. SYDNEY, December 23. At the Stadium last night Jack Haines, list, defeated on points Jim Pearce, lOst 81b, over fifteen rounds. It was a splendid fight, with torrid stages in every round.—Australian Press Association. The Wedding Sensation. LONDON, December 23. Mrs Mackillop, formerly Miss Huia Sargood, who recently provided a sensation at her wedding when she married Lieutenant Jan Mackillop instead of Captain Valle Pope, told a representative of the u Sunday Express ” why she changed her mind. “There’s no mystery.” she said. “We both broke it off. That’s the truth. It was absolutely mutual. There were no recriminations or broken hearts. Valle Pope and I decided that we had made a mistake, therefore we were not married.”—Australian Press Association.