THE DEPARTMENT SECURING THE LATEST INFORMATION.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 4, Issue 4, 15 April 1912, Page 275

THE DEPARTMENT SECURING THE LATEST INFORMATION.

The number of inquiries received by the Department for information in regard to casein during the past few months has proved that there is keen appreciation arising of the value of this by-product. As the manufacture of casein is quite a new industry so far as New Zealand is concerned, and recognizing that if it is to succeed it must be placed on a proper basis from the outset, the Prime Minister, after thoroughly looking into the matter, decided that the best means to this end was to secure the desired knowledge first-hand in countries where the industry is already firmly established. An officer of the Department,, who has had Danish training and is a German scholar, Mr. J. Pedersen, was therefore sent at once to the Continent -to make the necessary investigation. He has been instructed to furnish information by mail, so that no time may be lost in providing preliminary data as to methods employed and the plant required. Mr. Pedersen will return by the beginning of next season, and, it is expected, will be well acquainted with the latest information as to manufacture and marketing, as well as the details necessary for initiating the business on a proper footing.

In January the United States sent to Britain 3,452 cwt. of frozen pork, as against 52 cwt. for the same period of last year.

Undoubtedly, when 'the breed of pigs improves, as it will do, in Siberia, in the same way as in other countries, and with normal prices, there will be a great export, and people interested in the business will do well to keep their eyes upon it, as in the future bacon will probably be the second-most-important export from Siberia, and the United Kingdom will certainly, be the chief market. — Report by H.M. Vice-Consul at Omsk on Agriculture in Siberia. ~