INVESTIGATION WORK

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1928, Page 3

INVESTIGATION WORK

PROBLEMS OK PRODUCTION. STA TEMENTS BY PKI.M.E MINISTER WELLINGTON. Feb. 3. The following statement was issued by the Minister in charge of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department (Right lion. .1. G. Coates) with reference to the investigation work which has been proceeding in connection with bacon-curing and other activities. BACON-CURING. I lie clilorcemclit ol the Foods ami Drugs Regulations prohibiting the use "I tunic mnl m tin- pi cation ol ham and bacon Inis been giving maun laelurers of these products milch concern owing to the loss of keeping qual-

ity. apparent now that a long-accus-tomed process lias, of necessity, been abandoned. The elimination of boric acid, coupled uitli the popular demand for mild-cured bacon, lias compel led the ma i m fact ure i- to search lor other means of producing an article suitabl ■ for the market. To overcome this problem the help of the Department ol Scientific- and Industrial Research has been solicited by some ol tin- producers. to enable them to provide bacon anil ham suited to the public taste, and. at the same time, possessed of the necessary keeping qualities. Experiments already have been commenced in this direction, and include work on the best methods of i uring consistent with efficient production.

the maintenance of good flavour and keeping qualities. Other important matters, including the use ol sodium nitrite in place of saltpetre for the production of a good colour in bacon anil ham, are under investigation. 'I lie results of these various researches, when completed, "ill he made available for the industry as a whole. STOCK FEEDING MEALS. In connection with the utilisation ol meat and lisli meals lor the economic production of poultry and pigs, expei iinents are to lie carried out by Dr Malcolm and Miss Rope at Dunedin. The investigation will be carried out on meat, fish and grain meals produced

in this country, and it is hoped that they will result in the increased production ol valuable Iced materials, some of which, to a large extent, are now wasted. I here is no doubt that

large scale tests in other parts ol the world have shown that poultry, pigs, and cattle, fed on a suitable ration balanced with grain, meat and fish, have proved the value ol these materials in scientific production. At the present time only a small amount ot meat and fish meal is produced here, but it lias been definitely proved that suitable meals call be produced eeonotiiiea I l.v.

MEAT I'ROIMCTS

’flic investigation of a process involving the use of sodium nitrite has produced an entirely new method of canning meat, and the Health Department has gazetted regulations permitting the irfce of the new method. 'lbis process is 1.0 tli speedier and more efficient loan the old brine saltpetre method. It -n aides the heel extract, which hit'.’. »’ was useless on account ot its 1 salinity, to he utilised in the prep iration of highly-iiutritious feed for o'gand poultry, and the meat itself, w'lv-e canued. prossesses an even standard d (pialitv and colour. Ihe adoption o! this process alone will allect a saving to the meat industry of the Donne I .on amounting, at an approximate estimate. to some 63H.mm to CIO.IKE per annum. SEED .VXD IM.ANT RESEARCH. Arising from a request made o> tit Resea.ill Council, the Empire -da’l-v* lug Hoard has tillered a giant o-

C'J’itfO towards the costs of esta'4.siting plant-breeding and seeds res • h work, in addition, the board is piepared to contribute £2500 anne. diy I n 1 a period til five years towaids fin maintenance and running costs ot tie >e researches. It is intended that Hu work will be mainly carried out at me Massey Agricultural College, and aid embrace the breeding, selection ; •- treatment against disease of 1 hi grasses and other farm crops of the Dominion. By an improvement .n the quality and yield of various species ct farm crops, and their immunisation against the inroads of fungoid and insect diseases, if is jiopt'fl to lesser} tlie

heavy annual loss incurred by the. Dominion through the growing or ;,i, :r and diseased crops. The work to I e carried out will amplify the good worn already being done by the offit us ol the Department of Agriculture. Negotiations are proceeding with the l.< • pertinent of Agriculture and the Aig ; - cultural College Councils with a view to arranging the details necessary lor carrying out the work.