SUGAR OF MILK FACTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1916, Page 8

SUGAR OF MILK FACTORY.

COLONIAL PRODUCT IN DEMAND.* The sugar of milk factory at Edendale is, at the present time, working day and night, and' owing to the scarcity of milk, owing to the war, in other countries, the shortage of this product is. becoming acute. Mr. J. G. Neil, the chairman of directors of . the New Zealand Sugar of Milk and Casein Co., in ait interview, said that the war Was probably tlie cause of the pronounced shortage, as Austria and Germany are now out of the business, and the factories making sugar of milk in America were now engaged in making condensed milk to supply the armies. The export of condensed milk from the United States had increased three-fold in 191 ii, and a further increase was likely this coming year, so that while the war lasted there was no possibility of American sugar of milk bein<j available in any quantity. Excepting his company's (intput. the only other source of supply .was from Holland, but in that country the land round about .Edam, the chief sugar of milk producing centre, had been submerged by the floods caused by the breaking of the dykes. This meant that it would be at least a year before the land could be got back into anything like condition for pasture. Thus it was hardly a.surprise that, sugar of milk advanced £lO a ton on the London market last month, and there were prospects that the price would still further advance. This company's output was in good demand, and offers of contracts at good prices from abroad had been received. Already shipments had been sent to London, Australia, Japan and the West Coast of North' America. • ■ The trade with Japan had been the result of the company's exhibit at the Panama Exposition. A.Tapanese merchant visiting Panama had noticed the article in the Dominion's exhibit, and entered into negotiations, with the result that two shipments had already been sent, and another was now being prepared. This merchant had stated that previously he had bought sugar of milk exclusively from Germany, and expressed pleasure that he 'was now able to deal with a British factory for his supplies.