Wheat (2)

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They should all get their share of gristing. the question of fixing the price is one for deep consideration. 7728. If they all got a share and were only required to work half time for the Scheme, would there not be a material loss to the Scheme? — If the Scheme picked out certain mills, enough to grist all the wheat required, they would get a better return than if they employed the whole of the mills. 7729. By Mr. HARRISON: The mills are now paid at a price per bushel for gristing? — Yes. 7730. That is on a 60lbs. bushel? — That is on the dirty bushel as weight over the scale. 7731. That is taken from the truck — Yes. 7732. The waste commences with the percentage which is taken out of the first separator in the case of weevily wheat — Yes. In one particular mill the waste commences before the wheat reaches the warehouse separators. 7733. At the Katanning mill they were taking out by blast a certain amount of dust. Is there any market value for that dust? — There is on the brush machine dust. The dust from the scourer is practically useless. Everything depends on the quality of the wheat that is being gristed. In the case of weevily wheat the dust is not of much value, particularly the low grade offal. 7734. It is not mixed with any other product? — Some of the mills take off the scourer dust and the brush machine dust in the one bag. It is not frequently done. 7735. Would it be kept separate or is it mixed back with bran and pollard? — That is not done. It would not be advisable to do so. 7736. How is it you do not visit some of the mills more than once a month, whereas you visit others several times in the month Were your frequent visits caused by the quality of the wheat that was being gristed? — Principally. 7737. It was not caused by the millers not giving satisfaction? — If matters were not satisfactory to me I always go back to see that my suggestions are carried out. 7738. Have you had any difficulty with any mill regarding the carrying out of the Scheme's instructions? — No. They have always seemed willing to carry out any reasonable suggestion. 7739. You have no complaint against any special mill? — No. 7740. Is it your custom to suggest alterations in regard to the flow sheet or the clothing of the machines or do you leave that to the mill? — It has been done in two cases. There are not two mills alike, with the same flow sheet. They have all different ideas as to the correct way of milling. 7741. Do you consider the Scheme are getting fair results from the wheat milled? — They are now, where in two cases at the start they were not. 7742. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: You arrive at the percentage of invisible waste merely by taking into account the quantity of products as against the wheat received? — The only way of doing it is to have a fair practical knowledge and be on the job and make a reasonable estimate on the wheat which has been received at the mill. 7743. Your judgment is the only protection the Scheme have against a dishonest miller selling flour and having it taken as waste? — That is so. 7744. There is no means of checking other than your judgment? — And the miller's figures. 7745. If a miller were dishonest, it would be possible for him to do that? — Yes. 7746. By. Mr. HARRISON: But not to any extent? — It would be a hard matter to check. 7747. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: But you do not think it is being done to any extent? — Certainly not. I would have made a noise about it if I had thought so. 7748. By the CHAIRMAN: Instructions were issued by the Scheme that the products of the mills henceforth should be stacked for the purpose of getting a proper account of stocks on the 3rd November. Is that instruction being carried out? — In some instances it is, and in some instances it is not. 7749. What steps are the Scheme taking to get the instructions enforced? — I understand from the general manager that all supplies to mills have been stopped. 7750. Suppose there is any difficulty in arranging an agreement with the millers this year. You know the terms of last year, when the millers stuck solidly to the price they had fixed, and would not budge. Would there be any difficulty in running the mills if the Government commandeered them — Unless they commandeered the whole of the staffs, there would be difficulty. 7751. From your knowledge of milling, you do not think the Government would have to get to the men already running the mills. 7752. The employees would be wanting work if the mills were stopped; so there should not be much difficulty in getting the men? — I do not suppose there would be. 7753. The main thing would be an efficient manager? — Yes. 7754. Of course I am speaking only of a possibility, say if the millers went on strike. Do you think then there would be any difficulty in the Government securing an efficient manager? — I have no doubt it could possibly be arranged. Nothing is impossible. 7755. Giving evidence some time ago, Mr. McGibbon said there was not much difficulty in running a mill, and that it did not require much experience? — He is the sort of man who would use such an expression. 7756. You, as a miller, see greater difficulty than Mr. McGibbon sees? — Yes. If he can become a miller in three months, his office boy can become an accountant in two months. 7757. Then you think there would be some difficulty. But as an officer of the Scheme, under present conditions, the Scheme being faced with the weevil difficulty and the consequent necessity for keeping the mills running, would you advocate the Government taking the mills over if the millers proved unreasonable? — The Government would find it a big undertaking. 7758. You think it would be a risky job? — I think so. 7759. But would it not be one way of bringing the millers to a reasonable attitude? — Yes. 7760. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: In your previous evidence you stated that a 40-sack plant, 200lb, sacks, is the most economical mill. I take it that quantity equals four tons. Therefore Cottesloe, Guildford, Northam, and Perth mills should be the most economical plant? — Yes. Padbury's is the nearest to a 40-sack plant. 7761. By the CHAIRMAN: How is the flour standing at Fremantle in the stocks; all right? — The flour is good in quality. We have made baking tests with it, and analyses; and it has suffered no deterioration whatever, except that two or three seams of the Mediterranean moth and the mill bug have appeared in some of the older stacked flour. 7762. Do you think any of the flour will have to go through the mill again? — In a report I made two or three days ago, I said there was no present necessity for it. 7765. If the flour stays there much longer, will there be a possibility? — The longer it stays there, the more the pests will increase. The present weather is just what the pests want, in order to multiply. (The witness retired.)

THOMAS OCKERBY, Flour Miller, further examined:

7764. By the CHAIRMAN: you wish to put in some returns, I understand—Yes; some milling returns which I mentioned last time I was here. (Documents handed in.) I have received from the general manager of the Wheat Marketing Scheme a letter, under date of 15th inst., which I will put in. (Letter put in.) I wish to draw the Commission's attention to the last paragraph of the letter, which is practically a threat. 7765. The letter reads — Gristing proposals 1918-19. Adverting to our interview with your Mr. Ockerby, sen., yesterday morning, regarding the proposals referred to in mine of 12th inst., I desire to confirm our conversation, during which Mr. Ockerby stated, in effect, that inasmuch as the gristing rates suggested by the Advisory Board were just about on a par with what his margin would be if he bought the wheat outright, he would purchase from the Scheme the