PALM OIL AND CAKE INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2843, 7 August 1916, Page 8

PALM OIL AND CAKE INDUSTRY

9 SCHEME TO CAPTURE TRADE FROM , GERMANY. The committee appointed by the British Government to inquire into the present condition aud prospects of the West African trade in palm kernels and other edible and oil-producing nuts and seeds, with a view to the promotion iu the United Kingdom of the industries dependent thereon, recently issued its report. Mr. A. D. Steel Maitland, M.P., was chairman. From British West Africa there is a large and growing export trade in vegetable oils and cil-producing substances. The value in 1913 was .£7,228,000. It is with the palm-kernel 'that the committee are chiefly concerned. For many years prior to the war the trade in this valuable product, used in.making soap and margarine and as feeding stuff for cattle, was in the hands of Germany. Since the war broke out, however, mills of the most up-to-date character and equal to any in Germany have been erected in England, and others are in course of erection. Imports of palm-kernel to this country rose from 30,012 tons in 1913 to 233,249 tons last year. ■ 'With regard to the disposal of the oil and cake resulting from the increase in the quantity of palm kernels imported and 'crushed in this country," the report states, "very satisfactory progress has been made. The palm-kernel oil, instead of going to the soap-makers, as tho Brit-ish-crushed product formerly did, has bcon in keen demand by the margarine manufacturers, to replace the oil they formerly imported from the Continent. Moreover, owing also to the high price of butter, and perna'ps also to its improved quality and more attractive character, the popularity of margarine is rapidly increasing, and the public demand is growing." It is with a view to capturing the German trade that the committee make tho following recommendations: All export duty of .M per ton, on palmkernels, to be remitted it the kernels are brought to the United Kingdom and cftishcd there. The amendment of tho Food and Drugs Act so as .to allow the addition of the words "British-made" to tho word "Margarine" on the statutory wrapper. It may be recalled that our Looby Correspondent announced in "Tlie Daily News" of May 16 that tho majority report would favour a tariff oil the exports of palm kernels and oil-producing nuts and seeds from the Crown Colonies. Mr. Thomas Wiles, the Liberai member for South Islington, signs a minority report as he is unable to agree with the recommendation in favour of an export duty on palm kernels. It would be wiser, he remarks, if tho whole question of tho rearrangement of tariffs aud duties within tho British Empire were postponed until the conclusion of tho war.