AN OILY BUSINESS.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 12, 15 January 1924, Page 7

AN OILY BUSINESS.

BRITAIN'S FAT 'SUPPLIES. THEIR WAR-TIME USES. The majority of oils and fats that Britain required during the war were obtained within the Empire. It was the Explosives Department of the Home Governmeht that undertook the control of these commodities, mainly for the production of glycerine and lubricants for the air force, and so keen were the officials in securing every available ounce that they even commandeered the dripping from roasts and the fat from hotel sinks. Some interesting particulars of the work of the department were given to a ''Star" representative to-day by Sir Arthur Mansfield, who was Controller of Oils and Fats in London during tlie war period, and who arrived in Auckland by the Maheno from Sydney. On the civilian side, Sir Arthur had to feed the nation on margarine, foul ounces of which were allowed each week to each person, along with one ounce of butter, the latter being under the control of a different department. All the margarine factories were tinder Sir Arthur's jurisdiction, and a rigid system of supervision was enforced. His department supplied the raw materials and the factories worked to his specifications. To give each individual four ounces weekly a total output of 4100 tons per week was required, and the supply was always equal to the demand. The raw material came from practically all parts of the world, Australia supplying a considerable portion of the cocoanut oil .required, while the West Coast of Africa supplied palm oil. It proved to be an enormous business within the Empire, and other countries clamoured for supplies. A million and a-half tons of linseed and cotton seed were crushed each year, producing about 500,000 tons of oil and a million tons of cake for cattle food. One purpose for which linseed oil was used was in camouflaging warships. Castor oil was used for lubrication, but was Very limited in quantity. Sir Arthur mentioned that his staff and the various committees working for him were not paid, and at the end of the war his Department had a profit of 11 millions, being the biggest profit of any Department in the Ministry of Food.