New Uses For

Copra

Has Coconut Oil Any Lubricating Value?

ALL over the world, there is an in quiry going on, seeking new uses for copra. The following item, published in a number of newspapers recently, again raises the question of whether coconut oil may not be used for lubrication pur poses, or as a fuel for engines. If whale oil is a lubricant, why not coconut oil?

A Japanese scientist claims to have dis covered a process of manufacturing lub ricating oil from whale oil at an an nounced cost of about 1.50 dollars a gal lon at current exchange, according to a report to the United States Department of Commerce from the Assistant Trade Commissioner at Tokyo.

The scientist claims that the lubricating oil thus obtained gives better lubri cation, from a smaller quantity, than mineral oil. He also says that the flash point is higher, and the freezing point lower than in the case of mineral oils.

The report suggested that a new— rather a revived —use for whale oil which would consume a consequential volume of that commodity might be expected to improve the economic condition of the whale and copra oil industries.

But it is not as simple as that. Whale oil is now being produced and sold by the Scandinavians at less than cost, simply as a means of keeping their fleets and equipment together. On the slightest encouragement, they will vastly increase their production. The copra-growers should hope that they do so, as that will bring closer the inevitable day when the Antarctic whales (the last of the great whale herds of the world) will be wiped out, and this cruel and unnatural whale oil industry will collapse.

Use As Stock Fodder

The following is an extract from an interesting and thoughtful letter written recently by a well-known planter in New Guinea: “There is one aspect relative to the ‘rapidly expiring’ copra industry, that I have seen no reference to. So far, our prices have been regulated by the demand for the oil extracted from the copra and the by-products, used as fodder, are rele gated to comparative obscurity.

“During periods of drought in Aus tralia, I have noticed various brands of patent sheep and cattle fodder sold, at prices making the average planter’s mouth water. I am under the impression that these patent foods largely consist of vegetable matter with the greater part, if not all, the oil extracted.

“If this is the case, could not copra, with the oil, be made into a far more nutritious food and compare favorably in price with the other and yet give us a better return than at present obtain able by catering solely for human re quirements? A further attraction is that the manufacturing of the copra into this

fodder (if practicable) would be done In Australia and mean the absorption of some of the present unemployed.

“The above is simply a suggestion. I have not the data to enable careful com parisons or calculations of cost being made. I think, however, that under ex isting conditions, every effort should be made to look for a market not controlled by the Combine.”