WASTE POTATOES.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1921, Page 5

WASTE POTATOES.

NO USE FOR BREAD.

UNSUITABLE FOR STARCH.

By Telegraph. Press Association Wellington, Last Night. During last year a bumper crop of potatoes was obtained, exceeding Dominion requirements by many thousands of tons, and owing to the prohibition of importation imposed by the Commonwealth of Australia there was no outlet £or the surplus crop in that direction, and the question of utilising the surplus potatoes for other purposes, such as the making of potato flour and starch, was considered by the Department of Industries and Commerce.

Teste were made by a leading baker to ascertain how far potatoes could be used in the manufacture of bread, but unfortunately this means of utilising the potatoes was not found of much benefit, in that the added cost of the manufacture of bread containing a large proportion of potatoes outweighed the advantage of using cheap potatoes. It was also found that there was considerable danger of the bread becoming sour Furthermore, the general adoption of patent yeast in bread-making how renders the inclusion of potatoes unnecessary Attention was then given by the department to the utilisation of potatoes for the purpose of making pptato flour and starch, and in regard to starch it waa ascertained that for laundry work, starch made from first quality rice was required, potato starch not being suitable. Information from the High Commissioner is now to hr nd regardJhg the manufacture of potato flour in England. This goes very fully into the .matter, and the department has communicated the full information received do die potatoproducing interests of New Zealand* who are desirous of preventing a repetition of last year’s waste on account of the lack pf a market or inability to make economic use of the potatoes.