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DISCUSS VARIATIONS
IN C.C.S.; 1953
CROP "PATCHY”]
Complaints arising out of an ..unusually
large number of sudden rises and falls in
c.c.s. from the same fields of cane were dis
cussed at a meeting of the Queensland Cane
Growers’ Council.
It was pointed out that
these variations had been
particularly noticeable In
Bundaberg, Mackay and
Burdckin areas during the
early months of the 1953
crushing season.
Investigations at all mills
south of Townsville had re
vealed that in the opinion of
the technical adviser (Mr.
Waddell) the 1953 crop was
more "patchy" than usual.
On old land, patches of
lodged or fallen cane were
frequently found among an
otherwise upright crop. Red
Rot. stale cane and bad top
ping also introduced vari
ations. In irrigated areas,
heavier application, of fer
tiliser than In past years and
any uneven application of
water appeared to liavo
stimulated a somewhat rank
growth In parts of the same
Held. On new land, clearing
i and grading operations and
the' burning of timber heap.'
added to irregularities lr
c.c.s. in the first few crops.
He also found that very
great difficulties in getting
accurate samples existed at
n number of mills this sca
He found, by means ol
nlgroclne dye tests, that H
considerable amount of knife
mixing took place between
the end of one farmer's cane
and the beginning of the
next. He also found that It
wns humanly Impossible for
anyone to guarantee a com
pletely uncontamlnated Juice
sample freon single truck
“spot" samples at mnny mills
which are now crushing over
00-tons enne per hour.
Mr. Waddell also reported
the results of his recent visits
to all fnr northern mills (ex
cept Mossman and Goondi).
Due to group harvesting and
continuous sampling equip
ment at all except Hamble
don and Goondi, sampling
was more satisfactory than at
many southern mills. He
found, however, unsatisfac
tory conditions at some of
these mills, chiefly in the
direction of the employment
of youths to handle farmers’
samples; occasional delays in
maintenance of sampling
equipment; and an Increase
In some areas of truck wag
gon cane or broken rakes.
Mr. Waddell stated that the
main factors which had de
layed the introduction of
"continuous sampling" cbn
cerr.ed the present methods
of delivery, transport and un
loading ot cane.
Ways and means of getting
growers’ daily allotments
marshalled into larger con
tiguous deliveries reaching
the mills were discussed. It
was reported that considera
tion was also being given to
the Installation of cross
feeding carriers for railwuy
cane at some mills.
Mr. Waddell pointed out
thnt these changes involved
n few difficulties and objec
tions in some areas, but
against these must be weigh
ed the unpleasant fact that
with high crushing rates,
“spot” sampling was rapidly
becoming unreliable, costly
and unsatisfactory to grow
ers and millers alike. Unless
rectified this could break
down the extremely important
principle of “payment for In
dividual quality.”
It was agreed that, in tha
main, this was a district mat
ter which should be taken up
with the mills direct by the
local representatives of the
growers and joint considera
tion given to the whole prob
It was stated that mnny
growers were concerned with
what could be termed a trend
townrds excessive economy ns
regards laboratory personnel
hnndling farmers’ samples.
As a result of recent visits
to mills in all districts and
discussions with mill mana
gers and staff, Mr. Waddell
found that in many instances
the number of personnel
handling fanners' samples
had not kept pace with in
creased crushing rates, and
great difficulties were often
encountered In the engage
ment and retention of suit
able persons for these impor
tant tasks.
In no instance did ho find
the slightest suspicion that
irregularities in individual
growers’ tests were deliberate.
Mill laboratory and Central
Board stafT members appear
ed to be doing the best they
could under the circum
stances It was a change in
the existing circumstances
that appeared to deserve con
sideration, particularly in the
direction of—
Attracting suitable personnel
for this important task;
Installation' of labour-saving
devices and location of
laboratories near the cane
carrier:
Co-operation by all concern
ed In the discovery and
adoption of improvements
which might lead to greater
accuracy.
Mr. Waddell pointed out
that the qunlity and value of
sugar cane was very variable,
and it had always presented
an extremely difficult samp
ling problem So far. this
had only been solved satis
factorily by making proper
use of the miller’s machinery
(tips, rakes, knives, shredders
and large crushing rolls) to
mix and reduce the cane
stalks to a degree where
reasonably accurate bulk
samples could be taken. He
expressed the view that while
it was Important to keep down
the costs of sampling and
analysis of farmers’ deliveries,
it was also extremely impor
tant to keep up cane quality,
which influenced all costs of
production to growers and
millers alike.
Tile general Secretary (Mr.
R. Muir) expressed tile view
that these matters warranted
close attention by growers’
representatives and council i
members. It was felt that it |
was firstly a matter for the I
local people to inquire into,
and in many instances the
right approach to mill man
agements would lead to co
operation in solving such
problems.
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