Jnilever Leads In Demand For Better

[?]e Buyers Call the Tune

Copra And Stricter Grading

The delegates from 20 countries who gathered in Lucerne, in June, for the 34th Annual Congress of the International Association of iced Crushers, heard a valuable address by Mr. H. D. Howard, who larly this year made a comprehensive tour of all copra-producing ireas, including those in the Pacific. What Mr. Howard had to say, md what Congress resolved through a special committee on copra set ip subsequently, is of vital concern to all copra planters. Whatever nay be the opinion on seed-crushers in general, they are the mrchasers of your product and as such, what they require in the pay of quality must be your yardstick also.

The following is the text of Mr. Howard’s address:

WILL confine myself at the noment to describing some of ;he present methods of copra Auction, and concentrate on the n object of my tour, namely, rovement in the quality of copra ig shipped. question so often asked is— at do you mean by quality of :a? ne immediately starts to talk it cleanliness, snap, water lines. ; but surely the answer must

be the quantity, F.F.A. content and colour of the resulting crude oil.

This, after all, is the main object for which we buy copra; and there fore the laboratory must determine why one parcel is superior to another, irrespective of appearance.

Fortunately, nature is rather co operative in this case and, although not able to provide direct answers, can indicate (a) Oil Content by thickness of pieces and ease of oil expression, (b) F.F.A. content by

mould general deterioration and bv 5?.®. (large pieces bein'much lower in F.F.A. than particle’■ of copra dust) and (c) colour bv degree of burning, overheating and again general deterioration Immature copra is usually low in oil content and difficult to mill but can always be detected by its rubbery nature and shrivelled rind Moisture content, although im portant tp the crusher from the point of view of loss of weight dur ing processing, is far more important at the time of storage prior to ship ment Whether copra is shipped at 12 per cent, or 6 per cent, moisture it usually arrives in the UK at about 4 per cent, or 5 per cent., but due to evaporation and consequent heating in storage and m transit, the F.F.A. content rises appreciably. From a quality-of-oil viewpoint, F.F.A. at time of arrival is far more important than moisture content.

IT is certainly true to say that moisture is the biggest factor in quality of copra and that under drying is the main cause of de terioration and mould, with the accompanying high F.F.A, and in festation.

Taken in the logical sequence: When a nut is split, with or with

out husk, the meat is exposed to the atmosphere and bacterial action commences. It is most important to ensure that the meat is subjected to heat within four hours of ex posure, in order to dry off the surface moisture and so arrest this action.

If sun-drying, the sun must be present. This seems obvious, but so often this form of drying is purely exposure to the atmosphere.

If kiln-drying, the kiln should be warm so that drying commences immediately.

The rate of drying is also im portant. Sun-drying cannot really be hurried but kiln-drying can, and it is a common fault to overfire, causing burning or case-hardening to take place. In the latter case the remaining moisture is usually sealed inside the copra which, when broken, may snap, due to the hard exterior: but, on standing, softens as the moisture percolates through.

This is often mistakenly referred to as “taking in moisture” and con sidered unavoidable in humid climates.

The final step is to see that the moisture content is reduced to about 6 per cent. With controlled drying a good product should re sult and, if stored and shipped under reasonable conditions, it will arrive at its destination with very little deterioration.

THE problem now arises of how to get the producer to make better quality: • By educating the smallholder, and in many cases the estate owners, in the need for such a 'product, and how it can be achieved. • By introducing a firm system

of grading whereby the cope produced is classified into o'( of a maximum or four gradA Not fust “FMS,” “HAD”

“Smoke dried,” which are ves loose terms and to-day do m indicate the true mode of dn ing. In general, it does w matter by which method cojx

is produced, providing the quality conforms to certain standard s. » By instituting price differentials based on the true value of the product, such as saving in re fining costs, etc. These would obviously not all be in one direction and penalties must be expected for low grades as well as premiums for the high.

Basic prices will, of course, fluctuate, but the differentials could possibly be based on a percentage.

There is little doubt that if all Klucers in the Philippines, for unple, installed hot air kilns, the ility of copra from this area nld be substantially improved ause smoking would be elimin d and the drying would be in icndent of so-called “sunny iods.” his is long-term thinking, but o feel that 50 per cent, of the irovement can be achieved solely the producer knowing what the cessor wants, why he wants it t way and, in the case of the illholder, education as to how >e results can be achieved. I gest the following as examples the latter: — Avoid using immature nuts.

Avoid splitting the nuts until ready for drying.

Apply heat within four hours of splitting.

Avoid drying too quickly, but ensure that the copra is dried down to about 6 per cent, moisture.

Avoid cutting meat into small pieces. If the nut is split whole and meat gouged out for dry ing, a knife with a curved blade should be used in preference to one with a flat blade. This ensures that the meat is re moved whole or at least in large pieces.

If the meat is cut in the field and transported to a central drier, the bags, when filled, should not be rammed. Much damage is done by ramming both at this stage and when the dried copra is rebagged prior to storage, (The ironical part is that all this breaking up is purely for domestic con venience as the copra is finally shipped in bulk).

Lastly, when using open driers, burn shell only instead of a combination of shell, husk, wood, etc. :hink you will readily agree that of these actions would appear ivolve the producer in any great tal expenditure, and that any will certainly assist in the ufacture of better copra, hen considering Hot Air Kilns 5 wrong to think only of an orate model costing £3,000- >O, whereas a smaller, locally tructed unit, using oil drums ihs fire box and heating chamber,

would be adequate for the average smallholder.

It is also a mistake to look upon a particular type of kiln as a panacea. Although most desirable it must be borne in mind that they’ too, depend upon the human element’.

Whether a unit costs £3O or £3,000 it is still the man who stokes the fire and, where necessary, turns the copra, who determines whether a good product will be produced. By this I mean that we should not lose sight of the smaller points and look upon better quality as something that can only be achieved by spending a fortune.

I offer the following summary to cover 5 main factors: (1) The gradual raising of the

f unded of cultivation, selec tion and cutting. def nite .ly a matter of On T selection of w? paln s t 0 P rov ide the seed correct use of fertilisers and the attention given to keeping the plantation clean and free from

undergrowth.

During my tour, I was able to visit a number of villages, in the company of members of local De partments of Agriculture, and to explain to the villagers how im pjortant it was for them to look after their plantations and to keep down the undergrowth. I pointed put that they could substantially increase their yield of nuts solely by being able to find all that had

Uen instead of just a small per ntage.

Dne can make a strong point by iphasising that the planter is ing whenever he picks immature ts. because the meat is not com itely formed and he will be jnding the same amount of time and money producing a smaller intity of copra.

Hiis is generally accepted as ;dom but when prices are high ire is a tendency in some areas cut down everything but the m, and in areas where hurri tes or heavy winds are experi :ed it is a great temptation, letimes essential, to use the maturely-fallen nuts in the nufacture of copra, feel that proper grading is the y effective way of dealing with ! problem, e.g., “Grades 1 and 2 5t be free from copra made from nature nuts.” egarding cutting of the nuts, it ifficult to change tradition over it but where possible the nuts uld be husked and split only in ready for drying. Where it is to split whole nuts in the I, a curved knife should be used extracting the meat.

The adoption of efficient drying apparatus and methods. 5 previously indicated, the hod of production should be ten to suit local conditions, e.g., ■drying in areas having days of roken sunshine. In general,

however, the Hot-Air Kilns and Ceylon-type driers are to be pre ferred, being comparatively in dependent of climatic conditions.

Hot Air Kilns should certainly not be looked upon as being out of the reach of the smallholder Many designs discussed throughout my tour were adequately suited to the man producing up to 45-50 tons a year. (3) The elimination of pests.

These, of course, appear on the plantation and in the prepared copra, but I will elaborate on the former in my subsequent report and just mention the pests found in the copra.

Although sometimes disputed dur ing my tour, I am firmly convinced that the copra beetle and other forms of infestation are only at tracted by raw coconut and partly dried copra in various stages of deterioration. Copra dried down to 6 per cent, moisture soon after splitting, and therefore free from mould, appears to present no at tractions to the insects (this is also true of heavily-smoked copra). To me this indicates that if we reach the stage where dry, clean copra is being produced, I am certain that, providing the storage conditions are suitable, the copra will arrive at its destination free, or comparatively free, from insect infestation. (4) Rewards for the efficient and penalties for the inefficient.

This I have covered in my re

marks about grading and incentives and if we are at all desirous of u improved quality, I feel that systems grading and worthwhile price differentials must be given serious consideration. (5) Realisation by producers shippers and transporters that the quality of copra can suffer badly as a result of inefficiency or neglect and that steps must be taken to educate all those concerned accordingly. . 1 h 5Pe that during my recent uV r P f the Producing areas I was able to make a few producers and exporters aware of how good material can be ruined by in efficiency and neglect, and now I have the opportunity of also addressing those responsible for the transportation of this material.

To these latter I say when poor material is loaded you obviously

start at a disadvantage but when the material is sound it is your re sponsibility to see that it remains in that condition throughout its voyage.

The dust problem, in particular in connection with Indonesian copra, has been mentioned. During my short stay in Djakarta, I was able to discuss this question with Jojasan Kopra and to lodge com plaints on our members’ behalf. The reason given out there was that certain shipping lines were operat ing mechanical trimming apparatus and that this was causing the copra to be badly broken. Photographs of various shipments certainly showed the heavy dust concentrations where this equipment was used.

This is most likely to be a question of re-concentration of dust already existing in the copra, but it is obvious that in unskilled hands this apparatus could be responsible for the break-up of the product and so lead to further deterioration dur ing shipment. Transporters must surely join with other members of the industry in appreciating that this commodity is, in the main, destined to be processed into edible products and so do all in their power to preserve its quality during shipment. r[E leader of a recent trade delegation said to me: Do your people in Europe really want

better quality? When we were over there the general attitude was: “We know that you produce some of the finest copra in the world but we are so advanced in our techniques that we are quite content to re ceive the cheapest grades available.”

You can imagine how surprised this

gentleman was when I arrive carrying a banner with “Bette; quality for Europe.”

Let’s face it. Our techniques aij good; but, in general, the higluj F.F.A., darker colour and infests, tion associated with poor qualii all cost money to rectify, and wheie

lible products are concerned we ust insist on receiving our raw aterials in such a condition that [ality deterioration is minimised.

To conclude, the governments id local chiefs in the Pacific are terested in supplying us with the pe of copra we require and are lling to receive advice on grad l and to submit samples of copra : evaluation. They are also keen have advice on improved methods drying and to co-operate where Bsible. kUE largely to a period of de ‘ pression in the 1930’s the planters are very concerned DUt the future of copra and have b replanted, to any great extent, ensure adequate supplies for the irs to come. They are thinking

, Howard’s answer to Fiji copra nter, page 97; Fiji MLC Says ere is ",Nothing to Fear ” Page 99.

re in terms of secondary crops case the price of copra again ps below their production costs. do feel that now is the time meet the planters on these ques is, through their Copra Boards similar organisations, and as far possible to encourage them to all their efforts into the copra ustry. b one can possibly predict, with ■ certainty, what the future de ads for any one oilseed may be. r if in any way we are able to [cate a comparatively stablised •ket, I feel that planters will be ouraged to plough back more ) the industry and to lose the tude of “getting out when the •ket collapses again.” s you have said, Mr. Chairman, it is needed is co-operation by concerned and, where necesary, )r dination of effort. We hope, instance, that the F.A.O. will ible to help at the research end.

Quality and Grading

LTER in the Congress, a special committee submitted the fol lowing four resolutions, which e adopted unanimously: Having regard to the advant of pooling knowledge and ex ence and of co-ordinating in igational work— ecommend that everything fid be done to encourage co ration between Official and imercial Bodies interested in ing the standard of copra pro bion, with particular regard to following problems: 0 Provision of increased avail ity of good quality copra. >) Design, provision and utilisa of efficient driers.

J) Educati<pn of smallholders

the practicability of communal ng in certain areas.

(and) Control of pests both in the field and during storage. (e) Improvement in methods of cropping, production, storage and transit. (f) Improvement in marketing conditions calculated to encourage the production and supply of high grade copra. 2. Being aware of the desirability of marketing copra under well-de fined standard grades and at dif ferentials which will encourage the producer to improve quality and meet the requirements of the market— Recommend that the sub-com mittee of the Consultative Committee of the Association dealing with

quality stipulations be requested to investigate, in co-operation with the appropriate trade bodies, the pos~ sibihty of evolving a standard system of grading which will com mand wide support and enable price differentiais to be established which will encourage the producer and raise the general level of quality. 3 Regret to note reports of high dust content in copra shipments compared with pre-war experience, and consequent deterioration in quality and increased processing costs— Urge that exporters, shippers and marketing bodies be invited to do all m their power to improve the

(Continued on Page 97)

ition by avoiding the purchase i shipment of copra containing abnormal content of dust, un -5 the consignment is being pped as low-grade copra.

Regret to note reports of

damage to copra during handling and transit— Recommend that shipping com panies be approached and urged to ensure that copra destined mainly for use in the manufacture of edible products be handled and stowed with all possible care and that mechanical appliances used for trimming and other purposes should be operated by skilled per sonnel or under adequate super vision.

mething More Personal-Mr. Howard and the Fiji Planters

FRIENDLY letter is in from Mr. Howard himself, in which he refers to some critical com it by Mr. Jack Price on pro iings at a meeting between Mr. vard and the planters of Savu u (May PIM, page 151). was rather interested to read Jack Price’s letter on my visit to u Savu; and, although not wish to enter into long discussions, ould like to make one or two its— assuming, of course, that we both referring to the same meet- The one I attended was held tfarch 24, not 31, as he stated. and quote: “Several of the planters :e in reply, mentioning such igs as methods of production, age, shipping, etc. The dis ion seemed to be going round ircles and getting us nowhere.” ay I say that the “several” re

ferred to were in fact the majority; and that these planters were all keen to discuss the real problems of the copra industry, instead of just talking of the years of depression when, incidentally, many people other than copra producers were finding the going pretty tough.

Mr. Price told me that there was no intention of improving the quality of copra from this area and that I was wasting my time. The forceful comments of the other members left me in no doubt that the speaker was on his own in this view, and that the other planters were most anxious to hear of the buyer’s requirements and to dis cuss methods of grading, incentives and other points of mutual interest.

As for a “lull in the proceedings,” and the “meeting just fizzled out,” this hardly does justice to what was

J:- most interesting exchange of views, lasting the best part of two hours and ending only when some body kindly suggested that I shouM inspect the “production” of the Planters’ Club (where, incidentally I paid a forfeit for being the first to talk shop) I would just like to add that I respect a man’s opinion; and, if the majority of the planters of Savu Savu feel that I wasted their time on March 24, then I sincerely apologise. I am certain, however, that men who felt that the trip “was just a propaganda move and an excuse for bringing the price of copra down still further” would not have been as hospitable as were the people of Savu Savu during my short stay in this area.

The British crushers have all along been anxious to buy South Seas copra and to help the British Ministry of Food as well by doing so. This is one reason why they are anxious to see an improvement in the quality of copra being shipped from this area.

Unfortunately, the distance is

rather great for keeping up corre spondence through the PIM, but if anybody wishes to correspond privately, I will be extremely pleased to hear from them—and this in cludes my friend Jack Price, for whose benefit I will repeat the objects of my tour: (a) To study copra production methods and the reasons for the great variation in the quality of copra exported to Europe. (b) To study the steps being taken by Copra Marketing Boards and local producers to improve the quality. (c) To discuss the possibility of further improvements and to obtain views on the type of incentives con sidered necessary to achieve these, results. (and) To discuss the effect of poor quality copra on the production of edible oils; mutual processing problems; and the latest develop ments in British seed crushing mills.

Not so terribly frightening, are they? (Mr. Howard’s address is 14 Beechway, Bexley, Kent, England).

World Copra Use Declines

JF planters need further warning that the halcyon days of the late 40’s-early 50’s are fast

drawing to a close, they had it in a report by the Committee on Com modity Problems —a sub-section of FAO —which met in Rome in early July.

The Committee found a sharp c dine in the use of copra in tJ manufacture of soap and that tl had been only partially offset the increased use as food. (Ovs

efore the war, 400,000 tons of mut oil per annum had been i in the manufacture of soap; lay the figure is only 250,000 ;. Since 1938, the consumption lopra in food products had risen >nly 50,000 tons per annum, tie committee attributes this de e to the keen competition of •a and coconut oil with other ‘table fats and oils, especially he United States, plus the poor ity of much copra produced, le Committee regarded copra as least stable among primary modities.”

"Nothing to Fear"

ID, now finally a different opinion on the subject. It comes from Mr. H. B. Gibson, >pean Elected Member for the em Division in the Fiji Legis e Council. He recently spent e months in Europe, i his return to Suva in July aid that he could find no un ted copra either in England or Continent. ! found the reverse was the It was in very keen demand, largely to the additional uses hich copra was now being put. t saw the Nessbank load copra lavu Savu in Fiji and saw it aded in England. He took )les from the shipment to com the copra with that from : Pacific countries, the East Africa. appeared to him that the mills crushing peanuts, palm kernels other such products while wait for copra ships to come in, i they immediately shifted over pra. That was particularly the on the Continent. was particularly impressed the extensive use of coconut n European countries. Pre ly restricted mostly to soap, arine and explosives, coconut as now used by all the leading urants for cooking, and was extensively used in cake ng, biscuit-making and con >nery. m the extended use to which mt oil was being put he was need that copra planters had hg to fear in the future, even icers of low grade copra .

D. M. Kamerling, governing ;or of Demka Agencies Pty.

Pacific Islands representatives number of leading Australian ifacturers, will leave Sydney on imber 1 on another business to PI territories. For those ng to contact him personally g his tour, Mr. Kamerling an- Des the following time-table; ;te, Sept. 6 to 23; Apia, Sept, it. 8; Suva, Oct. 8-25. During )n of his stay in Western a, Mr. Kamerling will be tipanied by Mr. W. Griffiths, leal director of Glazebrooks s Pty. Ltd.

Family's Run Of Bad Luck

SOME sort of a hoodoo has been placed upon the Nordman family, of Tahiti.

The last of the series of accidents occurred recently when a car in which daughter Ethel was travel ling (she is Mrs. Harrison Bourke wife of an Australian), left the road near their home (up on the mountain behind Papeete, where is situated the famous rest house, Fare Rau Ape), and fell into a ravine. As it fell the door opened and Ethel fell out, very bruised and shocked, but not seriously hurt. But for the door opening, she must have

been killed.

This was the fifth of the family misfortunes. Oscar Nordman's sister died in California in January a , fi f e destroyed his home at Mataiea in February; Mrs. Margot Nordman developed spinal trouble, and is ordered to Paris for special treatment; and another daughter broke her arm while skiing in Europe in March.

H Mr. J. A. Greenfield has been appointed postmaster, Rarotonga, m succession to Mr. C. R Porter Mr. and Mrs. Porter took locai leave to Papeete aboard Taveuni in July.