MARGARINE INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2406, 11 March 1915, Page 8

MARGARINE INDUSTRY

HOW THE }VAR HAS AFFECTED IT,

> Sir William Watson, chairman of the Maypole Dairy' Company, in . a leaflet on Chemistry and Industry, issued by the Institute of Industry and Commerce, thus desoribes the effect of . the war, on the margarine industry:— Originally the margarino consumed in Germany,' Belgixup, and, England was all made in Holland, but when • the trade became important the German and Belgian Governments put; on a tariff which'promptly caused the chief Dutch makers (often with tho assistance of English capital), to build works -to.' enable tihem to manufacture margarine in Germany and Belgium, whereas they have licit built works in England, and they still continue to Bupply their English customers from' their factories in Holland.

Previous to the outbreak of war thv raw materials- used in the Dutch and Gorman factories largely came from British colonies, and consisted of jiuts and seeds, which were generally crushed and refined in Germany, thanks to the skill of tho German chemical engineers. Froni Germany much of the refined oil required for tho Dutch margarino factories was transferred to Holland, which, in some cases, only meant a.short journey down a river from the German oil mill and refinery to tho Dutch margarine works, often under the same: ownership. The nuts and seeds are chiefly produced in the British colonies, and 'in consequenco of tho war and the shortage of refining plants and skilled chemical kiiowledgo of refinery in England the price of same has, since tho outbreak of war fallen £2 per ton, whereas the price of refined coconut and palm kernel oil has at samctimo advanced £15 per ton. I'lte nut-producing k British colonies are suffering from'lack of demand and from the low prices now obtainable for their iimts, and tho British public hare to jj&y Driers for metarule.