AUSTRALIAN FLOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 65, 14 September 1943, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN FLOUR

BIG ORDER FOR BRITAIN

MILLS SHORT OF STAFF

O.C. SYDNEY, September 10. Having accepted an order from Britain to supply 500,000 tons of flour — probably one of the largest single orders ever placed in any part of the world—the Australian Government has provided a headache for the Man-power and Supply Departments. The cash value of the order is aoout £7,000,000.

To fulfil the order, Australian flour mills will have to work three full shifts a day. At present, those operating have only sufficient staff to maintain an average of one shift and a quarter. Unless experienced millhands are released from the Army, the Manpower Department will have to find about 1000 physically fit men from nonessential industries to staff the mills — almost a conjuror's trick these days. The flour industry is only one of many food industries with big orders to fulfil. A large number of soldiers have already been temporarily withdrawn from the Army for farm work and more will be needed for the next wheat harvest.' However, the Goy- ( eminent has always hesitated to approach the Army for men for industries and have made requests for releases only when civilian avenues have appeared exhausted. The man-power authorities will, therefore, be obliged to comb industries once again for additional labour for the flour mills before a further appeal is made to the Army. The order from Britain will be of great benefit to other than the flour and wheat industries. By-products from the gristing will ensure ample supplies of fodder for dairying, pig, and poultry industries.