UTILISING BY-PRODUCTS

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 October 1917, Page 3

UTILISING BY-PRODUCTS

To the Editor,

Sir,—Allow me space for a few remarks re a letter which appeared in the Auckland Herald of Otober 10. At a meeting of the Automobile Association on distilling spirits from by-products, a letter was read from the Minister of Agriculture, pointing out that from inquiries made it appeared that such an industry could not be profitably established in New Zealand. Exception was taken by members to the nature of the reply, it being pointed out by several that all the Association requested was regulation in order to allow the industry to be established.

Now I wish to add that my sympathy is with the movement. I might just mention a report I saw in a paper a few years ago, before the war broke out. It stated what a large trade Germany was doing in methylated spirit—they were exporting it at 4d per gallon—all made from rotten potatoes and other byproducts.

Now, sir we have thousands of tons of such waste products, potatoes, fruit, refuse from flax dressing, also cabbage trees, and many other trees, plants and grass, all being wasted. We in New Zealand should be large exporters of such spirits. Just look at the large profits we could make, spirits made at 4d per gallon, against 3s per gallon for benzine. This industry could be carrie d on in all the large and small towns of New Zealand. Every town where there is a Police Officer could maunfacture at a very small outlay of from £250, an d upwards for larger factories.

I hope the Automobile Association will not allow the matter to drop, but bring all the pressure they can to have a simple Act passed to allow the industry to go on. We are at a standstill now for motor oil. Our fishing industry, our milking and chaff-cutting machines, and many other works are now at a standstill for want of oil. Surely it is time the Government woke up to the true state into which we are falling. With our men leaving for the Front and our machinery stopped for the want of benzine to drive it, it is becoming a very serious matter. —I am, etc., Isaac McLeod. Helensville, 22-10-17.