CASEIN EXTRACTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 136, 1 August 1911, Page 5

CASEIN EXTRACTION.

OFFER TO START THE INDUSTRY REFUSED. BY STRATFORD FACTORY SHAREHOLDERS. A representative of the Wanganui Dairy Company, which lias secured tho New Zealand rights of a process for the extraction of casein from skimmilk, attended tho annual meeting of shareholders of the Alidhirst Dairy Company last week, and submitted an oiler from Ids company to join with the Aiidliiist Company and others in erecting a factory for the purpose of carrying on the industry. Alter discussion tho proposal was not accepted. Alessrs. Good and Holst, two representatives of the Wanganui Company, attended the meeting of shareholders of the Stratford Dairy Company yesterday, when an offer similar to the one submitted to Alidhirst suppliers was discussed. Air. Holst said there were several rumours regarding tho company which ho desired to refute. One rumour was that prussic acid was used in precipitation. Prussic acid was not used. In fact, the company had adopted the only process ox precipitation m which no poisonous matter was used. Tiia milk sugar was left in the skim-milk and a proteid matter would lie added to make up for the bone-forming matter extracted. The percentage oi casein in skim-milk was roughly three per coat. —about three times too much for tho calves and pigs to digest .The scheme submitted at present was merely in a rough state, and a large amount of detail work would have to 1)0 done later on. The whey which the company produced did not contain any aciuity—in this respect it was better than cheese whey. It had never boon produced in Australasia, and so lie could not say exactly what its effect on calves would be. He did not believe in putting whey in cans in which new milk was carried, but ho saw no reason why, with proper care, tho same cans could not ue used. In a number of districts a penny was regarded as fully covering the difference ootwoen skim-milk aim cheese whey. The payment of Ifd was net.

A smuciiolcier voiced the opinion that if the scheme was such a good one tne Casein Company should run it themselves.

Mi-. Holst said the Casein Company was not troubled by finance. Tne local directors seemed to be cautious men, and did not desire to take the risk, preferring that the Casein Company should do so. The casein industry was only about live years old, and was entirely now to Now Zealand. The Casein Company did not desire to make millions out of the industry. What they had suggested was merely a fair and square business proposition.

Air. Rawles asked what would be the position if the casein works failed to succeed, at some time before the end of tho five years.

The Chairman said the local directors would see that shareholders wero protected in that respect. A shareholder said that last season bo had kept calves and pigs, and he had worked it out that his skim-milk was worth nearly 2.Vd to him. In answer to Mr. Alarfell, Air. Hoist said if the proposal were adoptedTt would bo about four months before the necessary buildings could bo erected. The casein whey was just a little bit better than cheese whey. _ It was the same as cheese whey minus the rennet and fermentation, and it hold perhaps more milk sugar. A vote of thanks wits passed to Alessrs. Good and Holt. The offer was discussed by. shareholders at a later stage of tho meeting. V, The Chairman said lie did as well us anybody with pigs, but if they could get tno price desired he was candidly of opinion that they should accept the Casein Company’s offer. Ho doubted if anybody could prove that lie had made.2d per lb out of his pigs if there was allowed for tho cost of roots fed* to them and time taken. Shareholders, however, had to look at a great many things. There'was the matter of Sunday Work and other inconveniences. Mr. Webb moved that the directors meet the Casein Company and ask for 2d per lb on butter-fat. Ho said the casein proposition was an uncertainty while calves and pigs were certain. Mr. Webb's motion was not seconded.

Mr. Rawle’s' then moved that the present offer could not bo entertained .

Air. Marfell said ho thought the offer should not’bo refused at once. Ho thought IJd was more than many people made out of tho milk when fed to pigs. People seemed to ignore the fact that there was a return product. This product was claimed to be 75 per cent of tho strength of skim-milk, but if it was only 50 per cent, it bad to be remembered that all farmers supplemented their skim-milk with other food, wherefore it was not right for farmers to credit tho whole of their sheep returns to their skim-milk. As an amendment lie moved that the company offer to supply the Casein Company at 1-Jd per lb butter-fat, and that the directors enter into negotiations with the Casein Company. Mr. Marfell’s amendment was lost by 45 votes to 23, and Air. Rawle’s motion was withdrawn.