Extraction Of Coconut

Oil

A RESIDENT of New Zealand writes: The outlook for copra may be made brighter if a process of extraction of oil, which is now in the experimental stage, is carried to success at Thames, New Zealand.

Experiments are being carried on by Mr. John M. Treadaway, of Thames, under the direction of Capt. A. Skudder, who was formerly an Islands trader, in the Tonga group.

The process has not been disclosed. It is claimed that if it is successful, and operated on a large scale, it will save approximately 50 per cent, of production expenses and freight. Practically none of the nut is wasted, except the fibre.

EDITORIAL NOTE: Many people have sought, and are seeking, for such a process. Experiments are going on, at present, in the Solomons. Mr.

Courlander, who sought to patent such a process in San Francisco, three or four years, is in Sydney at the present time.

It is obvious that the method of splitting indi vidual coconuts, extracting the kernel, and pain fully drying same, in sunshine or over fires, and then shipping the copra across the world to he milled, is crude and expensive; but nothing yet has been devised which will more quickly com plete the process of extraction, without injuring the oil. It has to be remembered, also, that the value of the coconut cake in Europe pays the extra cost of shipping copra, instead of oil; and that tropical labour is very cheap.