A NEW INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1923, Page 4

A NEW INDUSTRY.

LOCUST .MEAT. PIETERMARITZBURG, Aug. 25. If the newly-formed Locust Product Company, of Johannesburg, is successful in its novel enterprise, the locust pest in South Africa is to be converted from an unmitigated curse into something in the nature of a blessing. According to a “Caj>e Times” interview with Mr S. C. Yorster, of Johannesburg. a factory for the production of locust meal will he at work at Cape Town before the end of the present month. The meal is to be for stock consumption in the Cape Province, and for export overseas. The idea is really a native me. for in some parts ol the Fuion. and particularly in Bouchuaunhuul. says Mr Yorster. the natives have long ago learned the value ol locusts as a stock load. Best ground work of all. the natives have turned their knowledge to good account with their own stock. The company, it is 1 romi.-ed, will be able to produce at Is j or lb an article as good as. or even better than, what is to-day brought into the Dnion and sold at 2s (id per

Tlv Antonian Trade Commissioner at .1 <:!■:■ imosinug says Unit as far rs poultry food aocs America would taka all of the product that •'smith Allica could supply. Tlio company is, ii is slated, also manufacturing a food lrom locusts for dairy cows. ],igs. etc., and they cat il ravenously. It is made in cakes, and also like doji biscuits. 'lhe analysis of i.'.o locust product are the highest of all this class of food, so I am assured. They nice the percentage of protein at .7.1.00 and of I'm at 11.10. The company expects to deal with at least .00.000 tens of the stuff per annum. 'I he (iovernment statistics show that in lf>2l-22 l | .0:JO swarms of “roof-gangers” were destroyed and, putting tnem down at two tons to a swarm, this represents over add.(ICO tons of what: is considered to he high-class food for stock. Mr Vorster is of tin optimistie temperament. If cost the (iovernment CO-'J.OOb to destroy these 118.00!! swarms, ami il cost the farmers, in time and labor at least £1 Ills per swarm, siniountin" altogether to £800.000; whereas il they had been turned into meal the limners would have been paid £n per ton for the locusts, representing one million pounds lor the farmers. At present this class of food is being imported to the extent of a brut I £‘ , 2CO,OOf) annually. The present idea is to have three factoriesone in Cape Town, one in doliannesl,iiro, and one at Tuderil/hucht. the latter to operate in the South-West-orn Protectorate.