The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1920. POTATO FLOUR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 534, 25 May 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1920. POTATO FLOUR.

There is perhaps no subject of greater interest to a large number of our readers than that of potato growing. For many years past it has run a close second to the d-iiry industry in Pukekohe, and hay more recently made vast strides over grout parts of the Franklin and M>nukau County. Both soij and climate a;e favourable to the production of what is one of the most universally required items of food, and tliere seems to be no reason why it should not in the. future become a very considerable and valuable industry. Unfortunately, of recent years potato growers have had some very serious setbacks. The Irish blight that a: one time threatened them with ruir, they have learned to cope with successfully. But they have not onl\ had to fight" with Nature. The inexcusable .potato embargo of last year hit some of them very hard indeed, and this year they have to face the prohibition of the Australian Commonwealth against their mportabion. Canada and the United States are now suggested as possible customers for our*excess production, but it is almost certain thtt nothing in that direction can be done in the face of the present high freights. Failing Australia, wo ha\o] no market we San turn to. How-eve. ! our purpose is not merely a recital of the. woes of the grower, but Ito suggest a lemedy for them that Would we believe be efticaciou '• That remedy is to turn, our surplu • stocks into .potato-flour. There is world shortage of wheat which vo shall feel here Tor years to com-, and an assured market for potatoflour, which makes a most palatable and nutri.trous food, whether tlSed alone or mixed with wheat-flour Other countries are making it successfully, and there is no reason why we should not do the same. In Germany before the- war there :we.e 500 potato-flour factories. To-day there are more than 2000. This speaks for itself. We thsnK the po-tato-growers of this district 'could mot do bettor than meet together, and set up a committee to go into the question of', lminuf-icturing po-tato-flour. We. believe- the industiy wouUr have a flourishing future before it. The capital required wou'd not be large, 'and there should be no difficulty in floating n company to undertake jthe work.' Even if the industry merely paid interest on the capital invested, the steadying of the market by having a vent fl>r- sauplns production would be of enormous benefit to growers. We trust 'the question will not merely be looked.on r.s an interesting proposition, and' thev, suffered to drop out of.sight.