POTATO FLOURMILL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 573, 8 October 1920, Page 2

POTATO FLOURMILL.

PUKEKOHE ENQUIRY. DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIES. MAKING INVESTIGATIONS. HIGH COMMISSIONER TO REPORT, GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE POSSIBLE.

Last Friday, in the course of a leading article-, we dealt further with the matter of potato flour manufacture, referring to certain investigations being made by interested Pitkekohe parties as to the possibilities of having a commercially payable potato rlourmill in this district. In connexion with the foregoing the-fol-lowing letter has been received from Mr. J. W. Collins, secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, by Mr. Percy H. solicitor, Pukekobe:—

In reply to your letter of 3rd ult., addressed to the Superintendent, Agricultural Department, which has been referred to me, I have to state that there is an absence of reliable data in the Dominion concerning the procession of potatoes for the production of potato-flour. It is, however, realised that the matter is one of considerable economic importance, more especially in a season such as the present, when the disposal of the surplus crop through the usual exportation channels has failed. The point you raise regarding the possibility of using that portion of the crop in the manufacture of potatoHour, which is at present wasted, or fed to pigs, is also of interest, and may possibly concern the growers in your district more than the question of utilising the main crop for this purpose, As the matter is of importance I have written to the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London asking-him to obtain and send me full particulars covering the manufacture of potato-flour in the United Kingdom, and on receipt of his reply will communicate further with you and go into the question of Government assistance towards establishing the industry should tha prospects i warrant same j