of the

of the

held a t

From 22nd t o 29th April, 1954

Edited by L. G. Vallance

Registered at the G.P.O.. Brisbane, for Transmission by Past

as a Periodical

WATSON, FERGUSON A N D ('OJIPL\NY

Brisbane. Q
 resident:
P. J. STAUNT'ON

R. W. G. HESSEY E. W. DUUS

J. L. CLAYTON

A. B. HENDERSON

Agricultural Section: Manufacturing Section:

Chairman: C. G. STORY Chairman: J. WEBSTER
Secretary: C. G. HUGHES Secretary: J. H. N l C K L l N

Chairman: J. V. HAYDEN
Secretary: R. C. GIBSON

lieations Committee:
N. J. KING (Chairman), L. G. VALLANCE (Editor), J. L. CLAYTON,
H. W. KERR, J. H. NICKLIN
 SCHEDULE C1F MBETIXGS
Page
Thursday, 2 n d April-
blornmg- :-ff~crclal Opening dnd General Mectmg .. .. .. .. 9
Afternoon--Meeting of Adln~n~stratlve Section .. .. .. .. 36

Friday, 2Jrd ApriL

Monday, 26th April--

Morning----Meeting of Illannfacturing Section . . .. .. .. . . 51.
Afternoon---&leeking of Manufacturing SecLion .. .. .. .. 57

Tuesday, 27th April

Morning---Meeting of .%gricultural Section .. .. .. .. .. R2
Meeting of Mannfacturing Section . . .. .. .. .. 65
Afternoon---Meeting- of Agricultural Section . . .. .. .. .. 89
Meeting of Manufacturing Section .. .. ., .. 73

Wednesday, 28th April--

Morning -&leeting of Manulactnnng Section . . .. .. .. .. 76
Afternoon- General MecLting . ... .. .. .. .. . . 9'1
 Page
Address by J . C. TRlVETT .. .. .. .. .. .. .
. 22
Report of Committee of Investigation into Co-efficient of Work .. . . 29
Report of Committee on Bulk Handling .. .. .. .. .. . . 32
ATHERTON, P. G. .. . . Bagasse Conipression Tests .. . . 79
BERNAKD, TV. .. .. . . Austrdian Trends in l'ressure Vessel
Construction .. .. . . ..
I3UZACOTT, J. H.. . . . . . Rich Land and Low Sugar .. ..
CAIZTER, G. K., HUNTER, 5'. &l., S n g x Cane Wax...... A Survey of Crude
. ~ n dLABIBERTON, J . A. bVaxes and their Bleaching with
Chromic Xcitl--Studies in \Taxes
Part VS11 .. .. .. ..
Rnhber Belt C'onveyors as Applied to
the Bulk FIandling of Sugar . . ..
CORNOCK, 15'. .. Centralised Lubrication in lnclustry ..
C1IXWFOKD, W. R. Pressure Feeder Balravionr .. ..
I)b\-TES, L. E. .. Comparison of Mill Chemical Control
lktwcen tho Standard C.C.S. Method
and Mixed Juice Sucrose Weighing
hlethoci Using RIulgrave Rlill Data . .
Control ol Costs of Metallic Arc m'elding-
in Mills .. .. .. ..
Rcmoving Scales and Incrust-ations ..
IIlectric lLIotor Drives lor Sugar Cane
1% eparation . . .. .. ..
Rotary Filter Operation . . ..
Cane Carriers in Relation t o High
I f ourly Crushing kates .. ..
Sotrs on the Hot T$'ater Treatment of
Cane Sctts in the Macka,y District,
1853 .. .. .. .. ..
Rettc'r Clarification with 'Rotary Filters
The Ycnr 1953 in Queensland Sugar Cane
l'atlwlogy .. .. .. ..
IIIIGHES, K. and l'relm~mary Snrestigatiom into the
KENN.S7, J F. . . C)ccurrencr oC Dextro-RoVttorv Sub-
%ianct.s other than Sucrose In Cane
J I I ~ C C S. . .. .. ..
I X N N \ , J. F and How Mnrlr Can We Spend ? .. ..
PKIXCE, I, J F
KRRK, H. R' .. The Milling of Cane .. .. ..
KIXG, N. J .. An Analysis of 'Trash Conser\xtion ..
JItTIR, R. j S. . . The Necessity for the blaxirnum Liaison
hetween hlillars and Growers . . . .
Power Costs for 1rriga.tion .. ..
Cllriniral Weed Control in Sngar Cane . .
Roller Bearings in Cane Crushing NIills
Cane Supply--Additional Cane Trucks
to Offset the Forty-Hour Week ..
Carrier Speed Control .. .. ..
SARANIN, A. and Heat Transfer CO-efficients in the
JENKINS, G. H. Evaporation 01 Sugar Solutions ..
SWANN, D, S. .. The Determination of the Therrnal
Conductivity of Juice Heater Scale . .
The Constant Temperature Room a t
Ningera Mill .. .. .. ..
STORY, C:. G. .. Standover Cane in the Central District,
1051 .. .. .. .. ..
TOOIIEY, C. Id. and Chemical Weedicides---&facIcay District
MATTHEWS, A. .L
VENTON, C. B. . . Some Thoughts on Overseas Mill~ng
Eractlces .. .. .. ..
Stale Cane Losses . . .. .. ..
Juice Flow Thstribution . . . . ..
h Review of the Sugar Deterioration
Problem in Queensland .. ..
WHA1,LEY. T. G.. SMART. H. P,. Ex~eriences with Brass Evauorator
and RUTHERFORD, B. J. . i'ubes .. . . . . .. . . 51
 A complcte list c: Members and Associai-e, Supporting and Overseas Members
of the Sockty is given below. 'The names of thos? present a t the Conference
are marked with an asterisk ( " ) .
Benn-it, N., lnvicta
Horton, H., Brisbane
Adkins, B. G., Bundaberg
Amott. Q. T., Brisbane
"Anderson, G. A., Pleystowe
"Anthon, E. G., Brisbane
"Atherton, P. G., Mackay
"Rampton, C. C., Brisbane
Barbat, A. J., T'ownsville
Bates, G., Gordonvale
Batstone, J., Kalamia
"Becker, L. J. G., Mackay
"Behne, E. R., Pioneer
Bell, A. F., Brisbane
Bell, F. P., Mulgrave
Best, S. B., Mossman
Bieske, G. C., Brisbane
Blake, 14. J., Qunuba
Ulomfield, A. Q., lsis
'xBlomfield, R. G., Brisbane
"Bourke, B. A., Bingera
"Broddock, T., Maryborougk
"Brain, L. R., Burtdaberg
"Briggs, L. J., Tuliy
Burtt, N. F., Babinda
*Buzacott, J. H., Gordonvale
"Carnercn, E. B. G., lsis
"Gamuglia, J., Innisfail
Cattl-, F., Uabinda
~hrist&ns&, A. J., Bundaberg
"Churchward, E. H., Bundaberg
'"Claire, A. G., Bundaberg
Clark, K. D., South Johnstone
"Clarke, R., Mackay
'Tlarlce, W. F., Proserpine
Clarkson, F. E. M,, Kalamia
"Cloyton, J. L., Brisbane
"Caates, W. S., Brisbane
tcoliier, J. C., Melbourn?
Crawford, W. R., Mackay
"Davics, L. E., Mulgrave
Davis, M. B., Kalamia
Dickson, S. W., Babinda
Dcolan, A. D., Brisbane
':.Urinnen, L. D., Uingera
"Duus, E. W., Millaquin
Eastgate, W. T., Bunduberg
'Eglington, V. B., Moreton
Enever, T., lnvicta
Eriksen, N., Brisbane
TEriksen, T., Millaquin
''Fevre, S. V., Brisbane
'Tcster, D. H., Mackay
"Fox, E. H., Tully
Qallagher, C., Brisbane
:::Geargc, R. L., Bundaberg
Gibson, A. J., Sydney
Gibson, M. R., Proserpine
"'Gitson, R. C., Binjera
G2old, G. F. S., Sydney
"Greenaway, S., Mackay
^MocG'bbon. J. M.. Brisbane
O'Brien, C. H., Brisbane
Grimes, W., Bunduberg
H ~ l p i n ,J. L., Millaquin
'gl~4amilton,A. S., Mackay
"1-[orper, W. J., Mossman
"Hoydev, J. V., North Eton
"Hayes, L. A., Pleystowe
Hayles, F. T., Kaiamia
Mack, F. W., Rocky Point
':Mcssey, R. W. G., Pleystowe
I.ioliywood, Jas., lnkerman
Holi-, F. J. E., Mackoy
"I-lughes, C. G., Brisbane
"Hughes, I<., Mossman
" I nverarity, J. W., Brisbane
"Jenkins, G. H., Brisbane
"Johns, L. L., Brisbane
"Jonzs, C. E., Sydney
'"Jorgensen, F., Racecourse
':'Kenny, J. F., Mossman
Kent, R. H., lsis
"Kerr, H. W., Mackay
Kidd, H. J., lnkerman
King, F. N., El Arish
'Wing, N. J., Brisbane
Knusl, H. G., Bundaberg
Lewis, W. B., Marian
Lloyd, T. B., Brisbane
Luckett, E. J. R., Childers
McGregor, lan, Melbourne
':'Manning, R. N., Pleystowe
"Morriott, A. D., Brisbane
Mason, W. J., Sydney
':'Matthews, A. A., Mackay
Mitchell, E., Babinda
Moulden, J. W., Mourilyan
':'Muir, R. J. S., Brisbane
Mullins, J. L., lnvicta
";Mungornery, R. W., Brisbane
Newman, I. G., Maryborough
Nichoils, A. M,, Pioneer
'F;Nicholson, J. R., Melbourne
"'Nicklin, J. H., Brisbane
Nutter, L. W., Brisbane
O'Mara, F. D., Mossman
*Pea!.ce, W. B., Fnirymead
"Pearce, E. T. S., Brisbane
Phelan, P. J., Brisbane
"Pihl, G. T., Melbourne
"Pointon, A. B., Pleystowe
z:Pollard, J. S., Farleigh
Praeger, A. H., Melbourne
"Price, D. J., lsis
"Prince, L. J., Mossman
"Reid, J. M,, Bundaberg
Richardson, W., South Johnstone
Robinson, F. K., Maryboraugh
"Rodgers, W., Mourilyan
"Rutherford, B. J., Kalamio
::%Isbury, S., Proserpine
+baranin, A. P., Millaquin
Scougall, S. H., Plane Creek
Scriven, H. E. B., Maryborough
"Shann, D. S., Mackay
':'Shaw, G. W., Farleigh
Shearer, A., Brisbane
"heppeard, A. E., South Johnstone
Skinner, S. O., lnnisfail
::'Sloan, W., Mourilyan
Sioan, W. J. S., Brisbane
"Smart, H. P,, Kalamia
"Smith, R. A., Marian
"Smith, N. McD., Bundaberg
Smith, C. N., Tully
"Sommerfeld, C. A., Fairymead
Spotswood, W. R., Bingera
Staples, W. E. B., Mossman
"Staunton, P. J ., Racecourse
Stcphenson, R. A., Tully
<'Story, C. G., Mackay
Stowcrd, W . H., Bundaberg
Toit, Geo., Brisbane
Accatino, E., Mourilyan
:;'Ahmed, M,, Sydney
Allan, C. J., Millaquin
Allan, R., Mareeba
"Anderssen, E. A., Brisbane
Andrews, E. P., Mossman
Baker, D., Rocky Point
Bolcer, W. E., Inkerman
'Borbat, F. E., Brisbane
"'Beiers, E., Brisbane
Beiers, J., Brisbane
"Bourke, B. W., Brisbane
"Bow, E. C., Marian
"'Boxall, C. R., Pleystowe
Brandon, C. A., Plane Creek
"Breen, F., Mulgrave
Brclaz, Noel J. M,, Melbourne
Burnell, J. G., Castlemaine, Vic.
Byrne, H. J., Mulgrave
"Ccmeron, C. D., Farleigh
.-<-Cameron,
.,.
C. R., Mackay
Cameron, J. H., Brisbane
"Carreras, K. P,, Rockhampton
Casella, S., Mourilyan
Cataldo, A., Mourilyan
Cattle, F., Babinda
Chalk, S. L., Brisbane
"Chandler, B. H., Brisbane
"Chopman, E. J., Proserpine
Chenery, G. A., Bingera
Chilvers. P. S., Mulgrave
"Clark, E. R., Mareton
Clark, H. W., Bingera
"Condie, J ., Mackay
"Coomber, R. M,, Newcastle
Torley, T. W., North Eton
Crawford, W. H., Mossman
Crowley, T. J., Brisbane
"Crozier, D., Brisbane
Curnow, T. C., Silkwood
"'Dark, H. R. E., Farleigh
Dicks, H. I., Brisbane
Dickson, T. W., lnnisfail
"Doherty, G. O., Farleigh
Donnelly, H. D., Pioneer
"Dore, K. H., Brisbane
i Since deceased
Thie!e, E. C., Bundaberg
:::Thornas, H. R., Brisbane
"'Thorp, A. V., Moreton
"Toohey, C. L., Mackay
Vallance, L. G., Brisbane
Vandenberg, H., Babinda
"Venton, C. B., Farleigh
:::Volp, P,, Gordonvale
"Waddell, C. W., Brisbane
"Waddell, G. E., South Johnstone
"'Webster, J. H., Plane Creek
':'Whalley, T. G., Kalamia
:Whitaker, H. N., Mulgrave
':'Whitson, C., Pleystowe
Whittoker, A. W., Sydney
"Wightman, G. W., Millaquin
';Wilson, G., Gordonvale
':'Wilson, H., Brisbane
':'Wright, B. L., Farleigh
'"right, F. B., South Johnstone
"Young, C. A. N., Foirymead
':'Douylas, A. P,, Brisbane
Dovey, W . A. L., Bundaberg
':'Douglas, A. P,, Brisbane
Downes, A. R., Brisbane
':"Doyle, J. P,, Marian
"'Dunford, W. R., Cattle Creek
" Enstgate, W. T. (Jnr.), Millaquin
"Edgerton, E. S., Mourilyan
Elliott, A. W., Bundaberg
Epworth, F. J., Proserpine
"Evans, J., Plane Creek
"Fodden, C. L., Racecourse
"Falkiner, B. S., Brisbane
"Forr-Wharton, D., Sydney
Fitzmaurice, C. H., Mourilyan
Flower, H . A., Brisbane
"Freeburn, R. S. H., Pleystowe
"Furlcy, N. W., Sydney
"Gault, A. A., Brisbane
Gibson, S. A., Bingera
"Glasgow, D. W., Gin Gin
"Goldsmi!Ii, A. D., Mackay
Goldsmith, A. E., Brisbane
Grcgsry, G. E., lsis
':'Griffin, W. C., Gordonvale
':.Hamilton, W. A., Brisbane
.,. .
-Harden, J. L., Mourilyan
-"l-lardy, E. H., Brisbane
Hcrpw, N. B., Brisbane
Hcryter, C. A., Brisbane
H:nd:rson, A. B., Brisbane
Henry, J. C., M t . Garnet
"'Hcsse, W. H., Bingera
Hirnina, E., Gin Gin
':'Hcffman, E. L., Morian
Horgan, K. D., Brisbane
Horrocks, B., Brisbane
'i Hourston, D. A., Babinda
H~irne,J., Townsville
"Jacques, R. H., Sydney
"Jensen, E. D., Racecourse
Johnson, A., Millaquin
"Johnson, A. H., Millaquin
Jon-S, T. G., Newcastle
Jorss, F. C. J., Brisbane
':'Kelly, C. B., Tully
+l<cnnody, B. J., Plane Creek Pullar, W. R., Melbourne
"Kennedy, P. T., Pleystowe "Rankin, D., Mackay
"Kenwoy, G. L., Sydney "Redmond, T. M,, Rcckhampton
"Kenyon, T. W., Plane Creek Rehbein, P. F., Miilaquin
":'Kilcullen, A. S., Farleigh *Richardson, N. W., Brisbane
Kitson, G. S., Kalamia Rickert, E. C., Bundaberg
Knezevich, L., South Johnstone '"oberts, I ., Newcastle
Laidlow, J. W. J., Kalamia Robertson, I. R., lnkerman
Landy, C. E., Mossman ilobinson, R. C., Melbourne
"Lee, J. E., Brisbane "Round, E. V., Fairymead
Leftwich, R. J., Brisbane R ~ w ,F. R., Bundaberg
Lehfeldt, R. L., Qunabo "Saunders: B. H. P,, Pleystnwe
Lever, N. F., North Eton 'Saundec-s, H. J., Marian
Lilley, D. W., IKalamia Saxby, N., Sydney
"Logon, D. H., Kalamia ':'Sestero, J. R., Mourilyan
::Lonergan, I. T., Muckay Shearer, S. C., Pioneer
+MucDcnald, D., Mulgrave "Shepherd, A. W., Marian
'>McGinn, C. F'., Mackay '"impson, T. C., Maryborough
"'McGinn, J., Mackoy ':'Sinciair, H. L., Moryboraugh
Mockellor, A. J., Bnup'e "'Sockhill, B. D., Macltay
"'Mackuy, H., North Eton ':'Soper, T. W., Marion
"McCraclcen. A.; Maryborou~h '"Saper, T. W. J., Morian
'W,cKinley, C., Mockay "Stephenson, A. E., Plane Creek
McLucas, V$. G., Qunabu "'Stern, T. G., Pleystowe
...-
McKinley, W. J., Mockay ->teven, J ., Mackay
McNamora, .I. F., Mourilyon Stewart, R., El Arish
McVcy, C. S., Brisbane Stonehouse, A. C., South Johnstone
"Manning, J ., Mackay Storrs, W. T., South Johnstone
Maslen. A. W. G., South Johnstone "Stuart, K. A., Pleystowe
"Metcolfe, J., Brisbane "Sunner, J . P,, Farleigh
Montgornery, H. G., Brisbane ':'l"aylor, A. R., South Johnstone
Moller, R. F., Ayr Taylor, F. D., Brisbane
"'Murdoch, H.. Fairymead ';'Taylor, J. R., Townsville
Murray, K. M,, Brisbane Tennuci, H. J., Proserpine
Murty, C. C., Sydn~y "Thornthwaite, H. G., Sydney
Neilscn, G., Ayr Tremboth, T. J., Babinda
"Nielsen, M,, Babinda "Tyzack, H. E. M,, Pleystowe
*Newbery, T. G., Plane Creek "Wallace, G. A., Marian
O'Dmnell, C. S., Brisbane Wott, D. M,, Brisbane
"Q'Neill, J. J., Cattle Creek Weatherstone, R. L., Mulgrove
O'Neill, W. A., Mulgrave ::'Wells, W. D., South Johnstane
Pagar~oni, L., Kalomio 'Wells, M . H., Nambour
Williams, Jos., Pioneer
':'Page, N . b., Marian
'Nilson, L. E., Brisbane
Peach, W., North Eton "Wilson, M. J., Sydney
Pemble, H., Giru Wood, V. V., Bingera
Perry, J. D. Proserpine ':'Worthington, V. F., Pleystawe
Pickering, A. V., Sydney "Wregg, B. G., Brisbane
Powell, W. B., Pioneer Young, R., Walkerston
Price, R. A., Fairymead 'Temek, R. J., Mackay

Represented at
Name of Organisation Conference by
A.C.F. G Shirleys Fertilizers Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wm. Adorns CY CO. Lid., Brisbane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L.. . Hendy
A.P.V. (Aust.) Pty. Ltd., Brisbane .................... J. F. S. Polden
Austral Engineering Supplies Pty. Ltd., Sydney . . . . . . B. A. Shaw
Australian General Electric Pty. Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . . D. C. Coxen
Australian National Power Alcohol Co. Pty. Ltd.,
Sarina ....................................................
ishops Implements Pty. Ltd., Melbourne . . . . . . . . . . . .
Frank G Bryce, Bentley Pty. Ltd., Brisbane ......
Rundaberg Foundry Pty. Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Burley Electrical Pty. Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D. W. Gee
Cairns District Canegrowers' Executive, Cairns . . . . . . . . .
Coltex (Qid) Pty. Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I. F. Nichalson
C.1.G. (Q'ld) Pty. Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Commonwealth Engineering (Q'ld) Pty. Ltd., Brisbane
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Orgonisotion, Melbourne Le:wton
H R Dolz~el
Commonwealth Steel CO Ltd , Newcastle
Dunlop Rubber (Aust ) Ltd , Br~sbane A C Clayton
Engl~shElectric CO Ltd , Br~sbane M W~lson
Fertilizers Distributors Ltd , Brisbane A McBryde
Foxall Instruments Pty Ltd , Melbourne A F~shley
C E J Torr
Gibson, Battle 6 Co. Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D. Donold
M . A. Potts 1
Gllbert (r Barker M a n ~ h c i u r i nCo.
~ P t y L t d . Sydney
W . B. Cornock "
J. E. Murrav {
A Gon~nanTJ Co L t d , Newcastle W H Probets
N J Hurll Pty Ltd, Melbourne
Instrument Englneerlng Pty Ltd , Br~sbano
K. Matheson
Johnson G Phillips Ltd., Brisbone ......
L. Latt
Kalamia Mill Suppliers' Committee, Ayr . .
Lanes Pty. Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G. F. Madin
Lincoln Electric Co. (Aust.) Pty. Ltd., Brisbane . . J. E. Dods
( G. Ollett
Marion Central M i l l Co. Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 E, Ellwood
,Mars Machine Tool Co. Pty. Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . . . P. Poterson
Mechanical Department, University of Queensland,
Brisbane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l<. J. Bullock
A. D. Phillips
Monsarfo Chemicals (Aust.) Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . .
.Mullins G Co., Tully . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
{ F. Nihill

Norton Tootill O Co. Pty. Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . . . . .

Oliver J. Nilsen G Co. Ltd., Melbourne . . . . . . . . . . .
S. Garmston
Olympic Tyre G Rubber Co. Pty. Ltd., Brisbane . .
I . C. MacPhail
Pioneer Welding Co. Pty. Ltd., Sydney . . . . . . . . . . W. Bernard
Public Instructian Dept., Brisbane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
John Reid G Nephews Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shell CO. of Aust. Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . . . . K. R. McNaught
State Electricity Commission, Brisbane . . . .
Timbrol Ltd., Rhodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W. G. Done
Tully Co-op. Sugar Milling Assn. Ltd., Tully . . . .
C.C. Wakefield G Co. Ltd., Brisbane . . . . . . . . . . A. McWilliam

Arbab, F. H , Premier Sugar Mills, Pakistan

Atlantic Sugar Refineries, St. John, New Brunswick, Canada
Bacchus, A. L., Demerara, British Guiana
Beeslev, E., S.M.R.I., Durban, Natal
Carter, M. K., Dept. of Works, Port Moresby, Papua
Chapman, F. M., Tate and Lyle Ltd., London
Connell, J., Bridgetown, Barbados
Joshi, K. A., Wolchand Nagor Industries, Bombay, India
Kaklra Sugor Works Ltd., jinja, Uganda, Africa
Keller, A. G., Professor, State University, Louisiana, U.S.A.
Locsin, C., V~ctoriasMilling Co. Inc., Occ. Negros, Philippines
Murray, C. W., Geo. Fletcher G Co., Masson Worlts, Derby, England
Ravalgaon Sugar Farm Ltd., India
Ross, E. S., Kakira Sugar Works Ltd., Jinja, Uganda, Africa
Sandvik Steel Band Conveyors Ltd., Birmingham, England
Serna Silva, F, lngenio Tamazula, Tamazula Jal., Mexico
S u ~ a rResearch Foundation, New York, U.S.A.
Sugar Technology Laboratory, Edgehill, St. Thomas, Barbados
'Jrnfolozi Co-op. Planters Ltd., Durban, South Africa
Van Dillewijn, Dr. Ir .C., Trinidad
C. Van der Pol, S.M.R.I., Durban
Walsh, W. H., Patrick Murray G Co., Durban
Webre, A.I..., U.S. Pipe and Foundry Co.
 F SUGAR CANE 'P'ECEBN

Held at Mackay, 2Znd to 29th April, 1054

' I he I3llESII>E,;\IT ( A l l . R. R . c;. IIessey), extended a welcome

t o all. EIr .aid that he was glad to see such splesidid attendance,
which, with the excellent papers to be plesented, d u p u l e d well for a
successful confelence. He noted that thelc n a s a g o d atreridance oi
visitors flom rnaoufactulers, canegrower\, business houses, and sporting
bodies, etc., of the hfaclia) district. He introdued C. W. DAYIDSON,
Esq.. hl.P., Aldelrnan BINNING-I'ON, Alaq-csr of blackay and Goiin-
cillor hIc1,ENNAN of Pioneer Shire.
illdelman IIINNING1'ON said it was s n honour to speak to the
Conference. I t was a p e a t thing fur men to assemble and exchange
knowledge. and it was a pity that such co-opelation n a s not practised
in other spheres throughout the world. He p e r m ~ a l l yhacl secn great
changes in field methods over the years. The progress achieved in the
factories was largely due to the techntdogists. He p a r e credit to the
Government for the establishment of sugar experiment itations for the
impmrenlent of cane varieties. He c tmcluded by expressing apprecia-
tion for the selection of hIackay as a venue of confei-encc.
Councillor L3cLENIUAh ( P i m e w Shire) mid that he was pleased
IIe
to be present as tile representatixe of the Pioneer Shire Courrcil.
apologised for the absence of the Chai~nlanof the Council. He pointed
out that thele were four mills and an experiment station nithin the
bounds of the shire.
The PRESIDENT thanked the speakers for their welcome and
called on RIR. 11/41 IIISON, M.P.. to open the Conference.

hlK. DAYIDSON said-

""Tclr. President, X thank you for the privilege you hare afforded
me of addressing you this morning and of opening your conference.
on the occasion which marks the silvel anniversary o f the
operation of your society, and, &fr. President. if permitted. just briefly
to introduce a pe~sonalnote to my- remallis, I want to say that I ap-
preciate this opportunity very much indeccl a., one in whose life the
sugar industry has played a Yery large patt. I may claim t o h a w cut
my teeth on sugar cane, and also to be one who has been privileged to
take some little part in the many delibcration~,confe~ences,etc., which
have been so much a feature of the economic stluctllre of this industry
of which we are all so proud.
Mr. President, you mert toda) t o commence your annual debate
on the many complex technological problems which confront the in-
dustry, and, as I look alound on the delegates assembled liere thia morn-
ing for that purpose, my mind reverts to your inaugural confelence held
here in blackay 25 years ago under the presidency of that fine gentle-
nlan i t ho contributed so much t o the histoiy ol the industty, the late
h11. Seynwur I-lowe. You will tenmnbel that with others nt similar
faith in the industly, others of simiia~vision for the future, he brought
to that filst cunierence some forty members.
An appreciable number of those who attended that initial confer-
ence are still with us? some of them still asstxiated with the industry.
How proud they must feel of this morning's record attendance and
conference agenda which are icnclusive evidencc c ~ f the successful
developnient of tlie society which they conlmenccd. -They can feel, you
will agree, that they planned then both wisely and well.
Now, a few nioments ago, I referred to the pride which we feel
in the achicvenlents of our industry, and I think it might be fitting, in
this opening address, if I were to refer briefly to some of the trials
through which the industry has passed, successfully passed. I believe
that achievement in any undertaking consists largely o f cunlrmting and
overcoming diff-iculties, and I refer t o these trials and difficulties because
I know you can rightly ciainl to have played no small part in these
achievements. Xow if I may attempt to summarise briefly the reasons
for the industry's achievenients, 1 would say that they arose from such
factors as faith in the industry by all its components. This, l think, has
been a very evident feature of our operation of the industry throughout
the years; also the determination by the industry to stand (m its own
feet, and t o seek assistance from outside only when justification for that
assistance could be amply and conclusively demonstrated. There has
been a search for maximum efficiency always by means of constant
agricultural and technological research, and above all else, a realisation
of the need for co-operation and collaboration between all the com-
ponents has enabled the industry to go forward as a solid body. 'l'hese-
are the basic factors which have been responsible for the industry's.
present strength.
Now I digress for a moment, because the remarks which 1 have
just made about the, strength of the industry and the reasons therefur.
remind me of my experience during the last two years in a wider field.
In that experience I have been in contact with other primary industries,
some of then1 of greater scope arid therefore of greater potential power
than the sugar industry; however, those fundamental factors which i
have just cited have not been developed to the same degree as in our
industry. I am not saying this in a spirit of criticism of other primary
industries, gentlernen, but. I have noticed that there has been a lack of
co-o~xrntionbetween the various commnents of these industries and
therefore therc has been no real unity of purpose in their deliberations
ilnd ~epresentations,and this has invariably reacted against the success
of the so'lution of any problems which they were facing. I repeat that
this is not uttered in a spirit of criticisnl of other industries. but merely
to stiess the great value t o our industry of the hearty co-operation and
collabo~ationwhich has developed between our several organisations
th~onghoutthc years of our history, and also t o urge, if necessary. the
Jesirability of still continuing t o strive for greater co-operation and
collaborat~on. 1 think chat this industry is an excellent example of thp
truth of that old adage 'in unity lies strength.'
Now. to continue along these lines, I shall quote just a few instances
of 11ow tile factors just enumerated have carried our industry through
many crises. Let me quote one or two of them. Let me take you back
to the early twenties: when me faced the position of rising costs and
falling prices. An approach was ma& t o the Federal Government a t
that time for assistance. You will remember that the industry was told
that in return for any assistance: granted, efficiency in both field and
mill must be increased so that it would be better capable of meeting the
existing cost and price levels: then Australia would never again be in a
positicn when it would be forced tcj. import sugar. History records how
the industry met this position. Increased efficiency was achieved, and
one of the factors of that success was the faith which has always been
exhibited in the industry's capacity to compete overseas. This was ac-
complished by ft~rtherm-opera~.ionof all units, by an increase in effici-
ency generally, so that the responsibility placed on the industry was
s~iccessfullycarried through. 1 would comment that, in my opinion, it
was in this first period that the real co-operation, which has existed ever
since, was cornxnenced. Ilndoubtedly, the responsibility placed on the
industry a t that tirne m-idened its outlcmk very ccmsiderably.
To ensure that ,lustralia's expanding requlrernents xvould always
be met demanded the production of export sugar, but uncontrolled
exports could be dangerous anti therefore the position required careful
planning and intelligent co-operation between all sections of the indus-
try, the growers, the millers, and the state instrumentali~iesand organ
isations. 'Then there uwuld be ensured an orderly and controlled es-
pansmn t o the limit of the probable market. Now X think that this
radical change in the intiusirq 's economy produced man) prdolerns, and
we all know the problems associated with that period of our develop-
ment. A t the same tirne J: believe it was responsible for the industry's
prebent proud position as the premier primary industry in Queensland.
Now let me take you forward t o another feature in our history, to
what I term the "bitter thirties," that period when the industry appeared
t o face stark ruin in the face of overseas prices on which even black
labc ur counrries could not exibt. T o some a t that time it appealed that
the expansion of the previous p e ~ i o dmight have been a mistake, but of
course it wasn't. I t was not a mistake thanks to the factor mentioned,
pa~ticularlyfaith in the industr>, and also t h e ~ ewas increased mechan-
ization in the field, and increased n d l efficiency through technological
research. At this time we began tcr make the strength of our ind~lstry
felt in intelnational representations 15ith the lesult that, duling the
period which resulted in the International Agreement. Austiaiia rook
its rightful place in the history of world production. of the things I
have mmtioned, 1 beliele that it n a s the increaied mill eficiency of this
period, which was the major factor in ovelcoming that crisis, became.
in my own expelience, this was the period when the full value of tech-
nological research into imprm ed milling p1 actice was most evident.
M'hen J say evident, I do not mean evident by way of large bonuses or
extra payment because at that time finances were such that that was
not possible: but it was evident in that it established the faith of others
ir: the capacity of the industry to carry on and thele was a continuance
nf that financial support following the demonstration that this industry
could meet and surmount its difficulties. I feel that there has not been
a sufficient realisation outside the ranks of the industry of the value
within that period of the technological research carried out by the
various industry organisations.
I will take you forward again to the present time, the years in
which the industry has developed its greatest stability and prosperity.
The industry's solidity already established has enabled it to take full
advantage of the favourable prices and market conditions which have
been operating [or a few years back. But here, in this period, the pic-
ture has changed somewhat for this is the period in which the research
into the agricultural side of the industry has played its major part. I
lemind you of the development within this period, of the new varieties
which we are now growing in such great quantities, the new varieties
which have changed the whole outlook of the industry both as regards
tcnnage per acre and the utilisation of our marginal soils. I remind you
of the development of a more intelligent fertilizer practice during this
period, and the greatly improved disease control which has materially
assisted the industry. T o sum up I would ask you how could our
present level of prodution have been realised without the technological
research which has produced these results! Wow could this increased
production have been processed without the improved milling practices
~%hich had already developed as a result of that same research?
Well, both questions must have the same answer, but they bring
me to the conclusion that this industry is moving forward nicely balanced
and eminently fitted t o deal with the problems of the future. Of course
LW will continue to have our problems, we have always had them. we
have them now, and, n o doubt, we always will continue to have them.
T h e thonght occurs to me that it might become rather boring in the sugar
industry if we ever reach the time when we haven't got some tough
problem to get our teeth into. We have had so much of it thtough the
years that we appreciate and r a t h e ~liltt. it.
 1 mentioned problerns of the future because there are some who
feel a little disquiet a t the immediate future, a disquiet based on falling
overseas nlarliet prices and marketing difliculties together with the
somewhat remarkable and early success of our expansion plan. ]I do
not discount for one moment the existence of these problems, or the
need for facing them frankly, but I feel no fear wllatsoever for the result.
I have n o simple solution to offer, nor has anj-one else, but 1 know that
just as the industry has faced and surmounted similar difficulties in the
past, so it mill lace and surmount our present and future problems.
1. believe that in the deliberations of the next: eight days, your
sucietl- will make ti worthwhile contribution to tlre solving of the prob--
lems wliich I have just instarlced. For example 1 understand, from a
brief survey of your agenda, that as a result of your policy of sending
delegates oX:c;scas from time to time, so as to keep the society as well as
the industry i d 1 abseast of overseas developments, that you will be
debating the possibility of improved milling methods. I understand also
that the question of improving the refining qualities of our raw sugars
will be dealt with by a delegate from the C.S.R. Co. In.cidentallp, that
prompts me rc; tlie rcrrlarli that here is a present example of the CO-
operation about n-kiclr I have beea speaking. I know too that the society
is keenly desirous (4 i x - ~ p c m t i n with
g a11 other industry units in solving
that vitally iirnportant problem. tlie bulk handling of sugar. I mention
just these fen- points ~ilicet h e y indicate thc great value to the industry
of J-our deliberations.
I ,
J lre~efore,I reiterate m y appreciation which I explcsscd a t the
ciprnrnenczment of m) ~ c m a r k s ,of the privilege of addressing you here.
Gentlemen. I wish 1 nu neli, m d good debating in your deliberations. I
fo: rriallp d e c l a ~ ethis conference open."

AIR. KTNC, in ~novinga vote of thanks to nil. Davidson, said that,

as men-tbe~s of the s q a r indubtry, we were foi tunatc t o have gentlemen
of tlie cnlihie of KYr. Davidson to look after our interests in Federal
Parliament. W e could have n o bctter advocate in Canberra.

']*lie PRESIUF,XT, I I R . ISESSEY. declared hlr. Davidson a n

Ilcmorar~member for the duratiur! of the conference. and gave him the
badge o i the Society, and a copy of the Proceedings.

A ~ d s g i e swere received from ehc fo1lo~briag:---

W. 3: Hakrr \V. 6 r i r n e ~ J . L Xullins
E. Bealing A. S. Hamilton A. M. Wicholls:
3. Beiers N. B. ITarper ('. H. O'llrien
N. Bennett J. Hollywood 13. 'I' Overell
S. B . Best H. Xiorton
J. C'. Collier .lHurne W. R. Pomell
A. Coyle H J. K i d d S. 13. Srougall
W. R. Crawford W .W . I,ewis C. N. Smith
G. F. S. Goold D. 57'. IAlcy W. B. Staples
 'I'he PR1SIL)KN'I' expressed regret that the following members of
the Society had passed away during the year:
A . U-. Seauchamp 11'. Gil lau J). L. McUrydo
I". Fergusan J 1, Hurnphry -4. xorris
Ifon W. lr'organ-Snllth
r\lembers observed a minute's silmcc as a mark of lespect to tlir
deceased.

'I'hc PRESJ1UE:NT' then asked the I-Ionorary General Secretary t o

call the loll of foundation members. 'Those present were: -
K. C'larke (Macltay) A. Goidsmlth (Maryborough)
\V. I". Clarlrc ( L'roserplne f J. W. Inveraritp (Brisbane)
M. R. Gihson (Proscrplnr) .I. M &kicGibbori (Brisbane)
The foundation members plesent stood, and were honoured with
acclamation. The P R E S I D E N T then delivered his address.

\Vhen the Queensland Society of Sugar Cane Technologists was

formed a t hlackay 25 years ago the membership was 43, representing
mills, engineering firms and the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations.
Today, the membership approaches 400 and it is considerably broader
in composition. A4gric~~lturists, chemical manufacturers and research
organisations such as Sugar Research Ltd., the lTniversity of Queens-
land and the C.S.I.R.O., were well represented.
The amount of material presented annually for publication has
increased greatly and it is very pleasing t o report a record number of
papers this year. This is particularly meritorious in view of the pre-
occupation of technologists with the heavy responsibility of the indus-
try'sphenonlenal expansion programme and it demonstrates clearly
their enthusiasm and regard for the Society.
W-hen planning the first conference ir was wondered whether there
would be sufficient discussion to occupy a four-day meeting. On this
occasion we fear that the eight days allotted will be barely suficient.
'rhus from a quantity point of view our progress has been most grati-
fying.
What of the quality of our work?
A study of the proceedings over the yeals reveals that there has
been no deterioration in the quality of the papers. On the contraly,
j~robablj~ as the result of the growth of our associated research groups,
the1 c is et idence of a welcorne trend towards a more fundamental ap-
ploach to oui technical problems and this offers for the future p e a t e r
promise of our effecting basic and far-reaching improvements to agri-
cultural and milling practices.
Accoictinpl~,inasmuch as the immediate object o i the Society i b
the pronlotion of discussion on the technical j~roblcnls of the sugar
i n d u s t ~ yancl the publication of teclmical literature. me hare aniplc
evidence h i t i t ha:. made e n d l e n t pl-ogress c m r thc qualter centu~t
and has fully justified its esistcnce
Service to Industry
1 feel that a n incidental. but nevertheless very i m p o ~ t a n tbenefit
which has accrued from the activities of the Society, has been the
development of a most admirable spirit of co-operation and mutual
assistarm amongst the tecl-inical men, of the industry. T
fectly free interchange oE technical information a n d few, if any, trade
secrets exist. I know this t o be in marked contrast to conditions in
most o t h e ~inclus~ries. I n this connection i t must be ccmceded that the
absence of internal competition for markets is an important factor in
our favoul. b u t nevertheless present co-operation is a credit ro the
sugar industry.
No matter how successful we have been in our immediate object.
sarely the ldtin~ateaim of the Society must be t o assist the industr? bp
facilitating the work of its technologists. h w does the development of
the industry over the past 25 years reflect the success of our efforts?

T h e prtlduction figures illustrate the tremendous clevclopment which

has occurred.
T h e area of land harvested has risen from 215,000 acres in 1920
t o 338.000 in 1953. 'L'he cane yield has increased from 17 tuns pet
acre t o 26, and the sugar yield from 2.4 tons per acre t o 3.7. I n this
way the seasonal production of sugar has climbed from 519,000 tons t o
over 1.200.00G.
Ther e can be n o doubt that altlmugh expansion of available markets
has provided the incentive, improverr~entsin technology have provided
the means of achicvinq this result. 'The technologi\ts' success has been
most spectxxlar cn the field side. Hyher--\ ielding and otherwise morr
suitable tarieties of cane have been evolved; fertilization practice has
been improved: much better control of pests and disease has been
cffccted: and mechanization has been applied t o our agricultlire.
On the milling side of the industr), our p r o g m 5 is most irnpress-
ivel) demonstrated by the increase in p~oduction capacity. On the
average, c~ushillprates have increased b j about 80 e1 crnt.. and in the
past yea1 alone. a phenomenal inclease of 30 per cent in production w a s
achieved.
Sarura1l)- this accornplishnlent required very extensive additions
and modification to plant and I consider that the difficulties and trials
of building uy the capacity of a mill under our post-war conditions
should be more widely appreciated. T h e operation involved deciding
on the design of the plant rcquil-ed, planning of layout, ordering and
manufactl~re.delivery to the mills. and finally installation. Deliveries
n-ere surnetilrles a rnatter of three or four years. We 1x1-e also faccd
with long and heavy crushing seasons and abnormally short slack
seasons, that it wa:: a job of great magnitude to cary out a record
recmstructicm i)rciprnnlme in addition to heavy maintenance. This -was
not rendered easier or less onerous by labiiur difficulties and rapidly
spirnlli~ipcosts.
Even although the lnill tecIino1ogi~~ a ~ ~ o n ~ p l i s l iae dremarkable
rebuilding task. tllc time lag in the field was shorter and greatly in-
*
creased quantities of cane had to be liandlcd in the rnills before plant
expansion was complete. Means of improvisation had therefore to be
adopted to minimize the effects of capacity bottlenecks.
The high crushing rates handled, in most cases without undue
sacrifice of operating efficiency, are a tribute to the industry and ingen-
uity cii the technologist.
crating Efficiency
From the point of view of operating efficiency, great plogress has
also been made in the 25 years under review.
Fuel and steam economy are much more widely practised, methods
of controlling and operating various processes have been greatly im-
pwved and the performance of pr~lcticallyevery main item of plant in
the factoi) is much more efiicient. Our low grade work has been greatly
intensified, especially during the past three or four years. I his progress
8 ,

has resulted in the virtual elimination of the requirement for extraneous

fuel, the reduction of lost time, the production of a better quaiity raw
bugal 2nd an i~nprovedstandard of exhaustion of final molasses.
On the other hand, it is not reilected t o the e ~ t e n WC
t would expect
in the basic control figures, such as overall recovery, bagasse, mud,
molasses or uncleternlined losseb. C l o m study sho'l~sthat while this
state of affairs is occasioned t o a n h o l e ~ t m tby increased crushing
, i, largely due t o a deterioration in the quality of cane so far as
~ a t e s it
its suitability for milling is concerned.
An increase in fibre content of 13 per cent. has made the job of
extracting sugar a t the mills a much more difficult one. An increase in
the proportion of dirt, trash, toy% t'tc-., intl-oduced tr, th:. mill .rT ith t h ?
cane has had the same effect on millrng and has also adversely aflected
clarification and recovery. 'l'he complete change from green t o bulnt
c a m has also tendered clarification and sugal lecovery more difficult.
I t xems, too, that with hp introduction of newer varieties the quantity
and quality c d soluble juice impurities ha1 e changed to the dctriment-
of clarification and recovery.
The combinrd elfects of these factors have been g ~ e a tand the
maintemnce ol rccovely and loss figures at the same level represents
in fact a decided irnprovemcn~in e k i e n c ) . I t i q theieforc apparent
that tlze procycsi made in the Iiclcl h a , been t u some extent at the expense
of mill efficiency.
From the foregoing it can be seen that both lrom the point of view
of capacity and operating efficiency the industry has made very satis-
factory progress and that the technologist has every reason t o be proud
of his achievement in that connection.
Some Unsatisfactory Features
Nevertheless, we cannot be complacent and we shodd be lacking
in our duty as technologists, if we did not p i n t o u t certain unsatis-
factory te,chnical features of our industry, although some c~f them are
matters beyond the contrd of the technologist.
I t ~ ml .-The legally stipulated methods of determining the respect-
ive amounts of sugar entering the mills in cane and leaving as raw sugar
are crude and inaccurate, and consequently crnr main mill control figure
--recovery- is not even reasonably significant. Little improvement, if
any, has been effected in this connection over the last quarter century.
 A411technologists agree that the only reliable method o f assessing
the overall sugar content of cane is by juice weight, while anyone can
aee the fallacy of determining the amount of raw sugar produced by
analysing and weighing only a portion of the output. I t therefore seems
pxadoxical that an industry which is undoubtedly efficient should suffer
a system which is inaccurate and haphazard to form the very foundation
of its internal economy. Credit must be given to thus:: workers arid
mills which have installed, or are installing, weighing equipment to pro--.
vide reliable figures, a t least for- their own use.
I t e m 2.---It. is most disappointing and disturbing to observe that the
economic benefits of increased technical elliciencv 1-end to be absorbed
by disproportionately high costs arising from inefliciency in certain
sections of labour not under the control of the mills.
ltem 3.-Our continued use of primitive, expensive and obsolete
methods of handling, storing and transporting raw sugar in sacks is to
be cleplored. The advantages obtainable from bulk handling are too
well known t o require reiterritios here but what does not seem to be
fully appreciated is that it is technically a simple process and it is by
no means a new development. Other industries have been handling
their prdllcts in bulk for half a century and even for raw sugar it has
been used for at least 12 j-ear-S. Nor can the introduction of bulk
handling be regarded as a gigantic job in comparison with other under-
takings of the industry. In the past two or three years, for instance,
the mills themselves h a w installed more complex plant equivalent in
value to 20 port handling and slorage installations.
With existing plans it appears unlikely that bulk sugar handling
will be in general use in Queensland for many years to come.
Item 4.-Because of undue delays in the removal of raw s u p 1
from the area of manufacture. se~iousdeteriolation losses are occurring
through prolonged storage m d e r severe tropical conditions.
This emphasizes the necessity for adopting modern methods of
handling which are much less dependent on labour, and the desirability
of providing more satisfactory sto1zig.e facilities. preferably of bulk type.
I t e m .-Experience in the lecent expansion programnie has shown
that although the milling station i, a most expensive and important palt
of a sugar mill we lack a sound knowledge of the fundamental principles
of the process. M7e cannot predict with any degree o f confidence 01
precision the effect of plant design. method of operation and quality of
cane on crushing capacity and extl action efficiency. Attention has also
been drawn to this state of affairs hy reports of visiting technologists
that milling practice ovelseas diffels greatly from, and is in some
~espectssuperior to, our own.
h fairnms t o ourselves me must stite that the problem is a very
rornplex m e , and exceedingly difknlt to investigate ti-ithout mole
extensive facilities than have been available hitherto.
So much for the past. What of the future?
Technolo,&r in the Future
As scientific and engineetin2 knowledge is cxpanding a t an ever-
incrrasinp pace in this atomic age. KC can be snre that advances wiII
r7
be made which can be applied to increase the efficiency of the sugar
industry. These might be principles which could be directly utilised in
, such as perhaps the field of ultrasonics; or used as t o d s for
research, for exampid radio-active tracers. It will be the responsibility
of the technologist t o keep himself well informed on current develop-
ments so that every possible advantage can be taken of them. Fortu-
nately our research facilities are growing and no doubt they will en-
deavour to fulfil this function. Besides keeping their own operations
a t maximum efficiency, the mill and field technologists must be ready
and able to assimilate and apply to their practice new techniques and
knowledge evolved by the research groups. I t is thus evident that as
technology advances it is becoming more complex.
This situation calls for highly qualified technologists in the field
and mill as well as in the research institutions. The following con-
siderations lead to the same conciusion.
The expanded scale on which the industry now operates has placed
higher value on efficiency and, conversely. a higher cost on inefficiency.
I n a mill oi average size, the seasonal output of sugar is worth about
;t2,000,000; hence one per cent. in recovery eflrciency replesents f20,000
per annum, or the cost of inefficiency-even to the extent of only 0.1
per cent. is f2,000 per annum. In the same way several mills are
spending up t o f1,OW.OOO in plant addition,, so that any inefficiency
in this work can also be very expensive.
h e s e conditions now apply to normal times, but circunlstances
whicli are developing today place even more emphasis on t h e necessity
for attaining the highest possible technical efficiency.
ties Facing the In
n r e have already seen how greatly inflated costs have absorbed the
brnefits of past imprcwements. Costs may rise still further.
Jn addition to this, we now h a m t o meet a ciecline in pro rata
incolne as a consequence of a fall in the world market price for raw
,upas and, because of limitations on overseas markets, we shall probably
have t o restrict production to some extent.
h t the same time, we cannot expect seasonal conciitions to be as
favoiirablr as they have been during the past two years.
I t is thus apparent that we are again entering a difficult phase of
the industry's history and that we must consdidate the progress we
have already made. I t follows that the industry has become Inore
dependent than ever on technical efficiency, and it must ensurr that the
~echnologisthas adequate assistance and facilities.
I t i s therefore timely and wise that we ahould be expanding our
research facilitirs which are essential t o the aitainmrnt of improved
cfficirncy. This Society will no doubt also contribute materially in this
respect. I n addition, however, it must be more widely realized that
the tirnq is past when Chief Engineers and Chief Chemists themselves
can supervise the routine operation of the mill, deal with operating
problems as they arise, plan for plant ~naintenanceand improvement,
and at the same time keep abreast of modern developments and apply
 I I
them t o improve efficiency. Ihcsc excutives must be given assistance
by having on their staffs fully trained technical officers who are free
from routine operating duties.
'The cost of maintaining one or more of these ofkcers would be small
in cornparisoxr with the high cost cif operati inefficiently, ol poor
planning and supervision in ncw installation orb. 'The experience
ained by technical assistants in this way would fit them to fill executive
posts later and so eventually the technical standard of our executives
would be raised.
Mills generally are becornm increasingly aware of this but many
still lag. More advantage should be taken of the miversities and in
particular the post-graduate course in sugaf technology, as a recruiting
ground. It is disconcerting t o find that a t this time, when technical
efficiency is becoming vital t o our existence, so little encouragement has
been offered t o prumiaing students chat there are no candidates for the
post-graduate course this vear. I t is t o he hoped that this condition
will not be permitted to continue
In conclusion I again draw attention t o the fact that the need for
the utmost technical efficiency has never been greater than a t the present
time. The existing situation represents a further challenge t o the
technologist but X confidently predict, froin his record in the past and
his present enthusiasm, that the industry will not find him wanting.

At the request of the PRESIDENT, the Honorary General. Secre-

tary presented his report and the Financial Statement.

(;entlemen,----.For the year ended 28th February, 1954, I have to

report as follows--.

The membership list at rhe close of the year was made up as

foIlows-
Life Me~nbcrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Full Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Associate Members . . . . . . . . . . 176
Supporting Members . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Overseas Members .............. 18
A total oI 381 compared with 373 last year. The total list of full
and associate members has increased b y 9 and the number of support-
ing members has increased by 11. The decrease in overseas member-
ship from 30 to 18 represents the reaction to the flush of extthusiasrn
displayed in 1950 when visitors from overseas to& out membership
which they have since failed t o maintain.
The pronounced increase i n the number of supporting mem
from 21 t o 32 shows that this form of mernbership appeals t o a signifi-
cant group.
I9
 r 7
I h e accredited representative of this Society, hlr. N. J. King,
attended the International Congress in British West. lnclies last year
and was acctrrded the honour of being appointed Vice-Chairman of the
International Society.
Subscripticm to the Internatiollal Congress totalled 114. The Pro-
ceedings of the Congress will eventually be issued to these subscribers,
hut to date there is no nens of when the Proceedings of the 1953 Inter-
national Congress will be available.

sugar chenlists has been awarded

r. Lono rained the award by 2
iiarsiiw margin over two other applicants. ' d e Bursary awarded to
C . F. Parker for 1953 has been renewed for 1954.
Seymour IIowe Bursaries for engineer apprentices have been
3% 31 ded as follows :--

E'ourth Year
R . h. NORMAN Isis Miil
1,. W. SHARP Rrillaqnin Mill
-411 are apprentices in fitting and turning except I). MT. Sharp who
ih rtpprenticecl in the electrical trade. hlasotti, hIcLtaa, Norman and
h2121p have all won bursaries in previous years.

We legiet that we are not able to oupply rnembets with a copy of

OLII financial statements for the period endcd 28th February, 1954.
Cjrciinarj- work com~nitmentsof tlie officer concerned have had to take
p~emddence. However, the usual audited statement of accounts will bt
iolwardecl to each memher of the Society in due course.
Subscription lernindcrb fol thc financial yea1 ended 28th February
n e l e sent out rather later than usual and consequently remittances
nere not able t o be blougl~tintu account in the year. A big proportion
of subscriptions due are on hand, and. as uaual, a big number will be
tcceived a t this Conference.
A survey oi our financcs for the 12 month period t o 28th February,
1953 reveals:-
Illcome
Subscriptions received ...... L168 15 O
Sales of Proceedings ...... 77 15 3
Bursary Donations . . . . . . . 30 10 0
Donations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 700 0 0

Total Income .............. L977 0 3

 We are platehrl. to the . \ u s t ~ k i nSugar Producers' Associatio~~
and
the Queensland Cane Growers' Council for their practical s u p p o ~ tin
donating L100 cach to the funds oi the Society.
?'he Congress Committee of the I.S.S.C.?'. have transferred to the
Society f S O 0 of a burplus of contributions from the industry and the
trade to defray the costs ot the 7th Congress. Our sincere thanks are
eaplessed to fhat Committee.
T>cma.tions t o the Seymour Homr A l ~ m o r i a lBursary Fund are as
fc>llow5 :--
Amalgamated Sugar fS 8
Pioneer Sugar Mills
Kalamia Estate 5610
A'lillaquin Sugar Co. 10 10 0
Other donatioa~srecrired since 28th Februarq are on hand and wiil
be 5nitdbl) c~cknowledged.
Expenditure
E ~ p m d ~ t u in
r e the period is as tollcws:-
Stationery i 1 4 711
Htworaria 49 9 0
JZimanes 137 12 10
Pwtage 15 5 10
Pett? Cash 10 0
I'roc eedingb 528 11
Discussions 134- 16 6
In~iisfailConference l6 3 4
President's Medal 3 1I 5
a& Bala~ices
General 4/c. f869 "3
Suspense A (c. 14 12 4
Busbary Fund 409 1 8 pluz interest
Ormiston G a r ~ n 20 2 0 plus intereat
Disctlssim
The leports nele,r tcelrccl on the rnotio~lof blesslb. C0ATk.S and
SOPER,
As thetc was no discusGon thc l e p o ~ t swere ddullted on the motlcE
of Messr.. YFAlTTVTON and DTIUS.

MR. U N ( ; presented this repcwt.

Onlq die Di:,cussiuns of the l053 Conference and the Current Pro-
ceedinga we1 r. published during the year.
~ J .-
D ~ S C Iions S -'The printing of the I[>iscussions was entrusted to
n'atson Feipuson 8i Co.. as their quotation of 120 was the lowest
rweived.
ITnfortunately dificulties in obtaining the appropriate cover ma-
terial delayed the publicatio~lof the volume by some ten weeks.
 P 7
l he text of the Discussions n as compiled from usitten reports and
account* recorded on tapes. Each type of leport was often below the
usual standald, because with the extremely poor accousticb of the Con-
ference hall, reporters were unable to hear speakers clearly. 'rhe Society
niay have to give more consideration t o this aspect in f u t u ~ e .
Proceedingr.--Although the 1954 Proceedings is not the largest
volume so far published, i t contains 36 papers-a reccird f o ~post-war
Conferences. Only three papers were received before 3lst December,
the advertised closing date ior receipt of papers, whilst 17 came to
hand on or after 25th January. The late arrival of so many p a p s
and the need t o have the Proceedings available by 3 1st M a ~ c hdetnand-
cd more haste tllan the Gornmlttee and the plinters would ptefer.
The Committee wshes to ccxnmend the effort made by the ~ r i n t e r s ,
Watson, Ferguson & Co., in having the Proceedings ready f o ~posting
on 26th hlarch. This company also permits the Editor t o maintain
close assoc~ationwith its operating staff so as to ensure that r r o unncces-
,,
sary delays occur. I h e arrangement is not usual with commercial
-
printels, and the Committee g~eatlyappreciates this coultesy.
All authors received gallej proofs of their papers and with one
cxccption all a p p u , \ d of any changes made in the original copy. In
the outstanding case, most of the author's requests were met, though
some which were not In accordance with the Committee's policy 01
standards could not be adopted.
The report was received on the motion of Messrs. ChhllERON and
,2R;I>ERSON, and adopted on the nlotion of hlessrs. GIBSON and
IVICKLIN.

hlli. KING moved for an alteration in the programme, as there

had been a request t o the Executive of the Society to allo~v MR.
'~1UVl"l"I' to address Conference on a matter of importance. 'This
would necessitate the holding over of committee reports to some suit-
able session OS Conference. The motion was seconded by MR. DTTCTS.
Introducing his address, hlR. 'I'RI'I'E'TT said that now was the
time when we could show Mr. Davidson that the industry could get
together on a problem, and hold the overseas markets for our raw
sugars. IIe then delivered the following address.
ilterability of Australian Raw

Complaints have been received from some overseas refiners con-

cerning the poor filterability of Australian r a m . This threat t o the
d~sposalof our sugar is serious for all millers arid indeed for the vrrhole
Australian raw sugar industry. The C.S.R. Co. refineries have fre-
quently complained in recent years t o our Head ce of poor filter-
ability and of the way this is adding t o refining costs.
Last season efforts were made to improve the uniformity of polar-
isation of shipments t o Canada and considerable success was attained
t o the satisfaction of the buyers. ilterability is a more difficult matter
22
as it cannot bt. gauged with any degree of sairty on the appealance
of the sugar, nor irom the ordinary anal3 ses.
Figures e have indicate a general deterioration in raw filterabilities
in recent years compared with the prewar years of 1936-1939, but thebe
figures are confined t o seven or eight mills and may not be representa-
tive, alr.hough refinery complaints appear to substantiate this.
This subject of filterability has been investigated by technologists
a t various mills and it is uossible that some work has been carlied out
a t l o u r mill. 'The C.S.R. Company has carried out extensive investi-
gations both on a mill scale and in the Research Department, and has
inxestigated some of the factors affecting filtelability. Reference is
made to a paper piescnted to the Fifth Annual Conference of the
Q u e e n s l a ~ Society
~i of Technologists in 1934 by Dr. R, W. Harman, now
General Manager of this Company, on "Improving the Refining Quality
o f Australian Ram Sugars." This n a s reprinted in abridged form in
the November 1953 issue of the Australian Sugar lournal. Recentlv
L, d

an investigation into rnetl~odsof improving the filterability of certain

South Queensland sugars brougllt about some improvement a t that
time.
All [jutline ol the xz-cuk clone on filterabilit? with some dlstuskm
of the rehults chtained will be given in this address in the hope that it
may be of assistance in this task of irnpro-ving. in genelal, the filter-
ability of our raw sugar.

The impoltance cf maintaining our export markets means that the

responsibility is on each mill to produce sugar of the bujers' requiie-
rnents. One brand of low filterability can spoil a whole shipment, as it
ha.: been prcwed in our Research Department hat thr filte~ability of
a mixture of brands is alwal s below the calculated average.
I t is proposrtl therefore, that a campaign be instituted this season
t o determine the filterabilities of all Queensland sugars. I t is proposed
that each mill be asked to despatch to our Research 1)epartnient in
Sydney certain san~plesby air eveiy week. 'Thrsr samples will be
tested for raw filterability and the mill advised promptly by telegram
of the' results obtained.
If the filterability is i w n d to be below requirements, then it is
sugpested that w e or more of the variations t o be outlined here and
considered most likely t o be applicable to the conditions a t the milt.
might be applied for a p e r i d sufficient t o determine the effect on the
sugar made. This direct method should eventually aid any mill t o
raise the filterabilit) of its sugar, particularly if it is below standard.
The C.S.R. Research Department has developed a new type of
test filter and a simplified technique for deterrnirlation of filterability.
A t the presmt moment, this test is not final and may iequire some
modification after more sugars habe been studied. Therefore we are
not yet in a position to issue it for general use. but will make the filter
and the test available to the industry as soon as possible. We believe
it is developed to the stage of a practicalvguide t o ~ o o d indifferent
, or
bad filtering sugar, but a Eurther year Q checking over a large number
of samples is required.
 ecting the Filterability of Sugar
General.-There arc many fact.ol-s \t.liicll can ali'ect fil~el-ability.
I t is believed that riatwal cllanges in the can<:due to seasonal infiucnx.
can play a big part, that the iniluencc oi different districts and prob-
ably of varieties ntay be an iiuporrant factor; a n d litat the factcry
processes can induence tllc i~::alsugar rriacie v21 J ~ l i t l ~ l i .
I t is dificult to examine seasor~alaveragu iilterclhili~ie;(;l sugar a n d
explain a rise or fall as che to one variable. Frequently conclitims arc
sc, changeable a t a ad1 that cne iacior c:iSscts anot.ii-:S. A changc i n
conditions favourable t o one inill may not product die clillle rtxiilt :it
another, even in the same localit]\-. It is Eor this I-cascm &at this
questiim of p~(jtiuciilg a good tiltcl-ing sugar hecomes a prohlem t o r
each nil11 irlctivid~~all;,. ancl a proL~len1that car] vary from stxhon to
season and cvcn cluririp s si- ascm.

iiuriug the last three years, our Research Ikpastnlent has made
a par'ii~.ulai-sruii!- oE efFect.s c!f impuri~icsoil, the filtration rates of raw
sugars with the object of finding ways to improve the filterabilicy of
.
Australian ram sugar. 1his investiglition is lxing c < - , i ~ ~ h t i : c ;a n J $1 t.
F 7

attach the greatest importance t o it. It is closely a s s c ~ i a t e din o u r

liesearcl1 l k p a ~ t r n e n twith i n t c n x and i c u i t h d i w r k on a pilor plant
scale on refiner). carbonatic:n and f i l t r a t i c ~probirnls.
v
Jl he work was first commenced in 1950 with special reference tci
7

those sugars which filtered poorly after reiinery carlmnation. In the

main. two classcs of raw sugar were studied:
1. T h e so-called North Queensland raw sugars f r o m the four
C.S.R. Mills,
2. T h e so-called South Queensland raw sugars f r - c m tllr mills in
the Bundaberg area.
7 .
l he standaid filtration test usin:: S u p e ~ c e l wa, employed and
micro-anal) :c:, n e l z cdlried out on the washed filter cnkz.
Conflicting statements appeared in the literature as to what a r e
the important impurities affecting filtration rate. Jiiitirilly, the filter
cakes from t h e standard filterability test were analysed for:
1. Insoluble ash,
2. 'I'otal organic solids.
3. Polyaaccharicie,
4. Protein.
7'he results of the work shon-ed that:
1. T h e p H to which a raw sugar has been subjectrd before filtra-
t ~ o nis a most important factor in determining the rate and
the impurities removed by filtration.
2. No correlation was found between insoluble ash content a n d
filtration ratc.
 1, I - n d e ~all conclitims of filtration ,tudieJ file p l ) h.l~~hi!ll\~r'
and
protein impurities n e r e the important one5 in dcterminin:; the
rate of fihation.
In considering the effect. of raw sugar inlpurities. in. filtraiica.
. a dear
Jistir~cticninust bc drawn bc.tn.een t h e total impurltle:: in a r a r sug;,r
and the 1loi:culat.ed impurities. F i h a t i o n ol a sugar a t low pH gives, in
the filter cake. only those impurities which happen to toe Rocculated
rinder those cundi~ic~ns. and sllows nothing of tire latent bcllaviour
\z hich x i i i show up urltler ccnilitions of high pH.
P ,
I he intel-leldtiorr of 1,Il and polj-saccharide and p ~ o t e i ncontents
is most i m p i t a n t In that the filtration rate is determined b j the
,rmouiit of poi! sa~ch'tnlde and i81cteln floccnlated. T h e amount of
1'0171 s~cchai-id$and piotein floccula~etlis dependent both on the 1-11-1of
n cm t l x p11 tc, \:!!ich the sugar has been .,ubjected hcfme
i ~ I t ~ - l t ; c,tnct
filtration.
Ilrlrin>: fi11.raticn at. the n;tural pH of the ra.w sugar it is estilnated
11lat X;. 1.c' cent. of the variation c,i Slrration rate can be explained by
the Hocculated poi! saccharide and protein content; a n d oi this ~ a r i t i -
tiun, 3'7 per cent. is contributed by jwlysaccharide and 21 pcr cent. by
protein. On the otliel hanci, ihe filtration rate a t a pH between 9 a d
10 nia?. Iw 00 jYcrcent. esy7lr;:n d rhe Rocculated yolysacclmrjde and
yl-otein contents of the filter cake; t h e individual contributions of each
impurity being polpsaccharicie 63 per cent. a n d protein 27 per cent.
' I h u l ; , the impcv-tancc uf the polysaccharide content of a ran- sugar
destined ior car-bonntation in :I rrfinery is obvious-thr: higher the poly-
saccbrrride: t s e 1%-vvcirsethe filtration rate.
In h i s original investigation a big difference in bel~aviourbetween
those slirars fionl the Bundal-wg arc;] and the sugars from the northern
mills rra: found. 'The Hundaberp surars were shown to contain about
inice as ~nllcl,polj-saccharidc as the h n r t h Queensland sugars, a n d dur-
ing hltration at v13 10 s h o ~ e c la 308 ver cent. increase in floccu!ated
polysaccharide, whereas, for the Xaiorth Queensland sugars. the increase
in flocculated polysaccharide was only 117 per cent.
W e ha1 e found n o othel iinpui ities as important as polysaccharide
in affecting the filtiaticm rate of a raw sugar. Recently our research
work ha5 been directed toward:; a more complete ide~~tification of the
pplysaccharide f o l . )et. it cannot be described as a chen~icalentity.
7 he next ~ t c pis to find ihe origin o f tlic. polysaccharide, that is, whr.ther
ii occurs i11 cam3 itsrlf, oi mhether it is pruii~zced under normal or
abnormal ionditiens of processing in the mill. Yatui-ally. the f i n d step
will he to find ways t o remove rhis impurity or ovcrconle its a t i ~ c r s e
effect.
Wc lealise that this ploblern will not be easy t o solve and thc
combined efforts of f i l bt-class oiganic chemist.;. p h j sical chemists, and
mill technologiata will be directed towards its solution. At the rnoment
wc can d o little about it at the mills.
 Now for some of the factors in the factory and their effects on raw
sugar filterability.
Hot or Cool Maceratiorz.-An average of five small scale trials
indicated that the filterability of raw sugar reached a maximum a t
maceration temperatures of 140-160" F. over a trial range of tempera-
tures from 100" F. t o 212' F.
A number of full scale trials a t the mills over the years gave
ir!conclusive results a t times, but in general cool maceration gave a
higher filtering raw than hot maceration. For example, a trial over
six fortnightly periods each at one mill gave:
aceration
Hot (200-212" F.) 11.1 gal./sq.ft/hr.
Cool (140-160" F.) 14.7 gal./sq.ft/hr.
This could be due to selective extraction of impurities at the higher
temperature. However, against the effect of cool maceration must be
placed the possible reduction in sucrose extraction in the milling train.
Acid or Alkalilze Macel-atio.?~.---Iiest~ltswere inconclusive a s to
n)::tlier tlre addition of lime to maceration affected filtel-ability to any
extent. An awl-age of 13 laboratory trials showed a slight fall in
filterability from n o lime to 25 per cent. lime t o maceration, and there-
after a small increase in raw filterability up t o 50 per cent. lime to
maceration.
Clarificatio?z.-Good cla~ification is an important requisite in the
p ~ d u c t i o nof good filteling sugar although on occasions this cannot
wcrcome the naturally poor characteristics of some juices.
Good clarification as we know it means good cla~ityof clarified
juice, fast coagulation and speedy settling of the precipitate in the
<lalifie~ s and ~egularp13 control. One of our mills last season encount-
ered great difficulty with clarification, mainly on account of plant
troubles, and we consider that this poor clarification was the main
reason why the filterability d the raw sugar from that nlill fell from
11.1 gallcms/sq.ft /hr. in 1952 to 5.8 gals. /sq.ft ;hr. in 1953.
The effect: of pII on clarification is reasonably well defined and
i~:vestigationscarlied out point t o an increase in filterability as the pH
of clarified juice rises from 6.5 to 8.0 The general average of a large
number of trials a t the mills and the Research Department involvinp
three varieties of cane showed:
ilterability Raw Sugar
7.2 5 6.6 gals./sq.ft / h ~ .
7.6 8.5 , 7 77 7)

8.0 10.6 ,, >> 79

Frequently high liniing is limited by insufficient settling plant, but

a regular control of p1-I at the higher ranges could be an aid towards
improving the filterability of sorne sugars.
I'aricrus methods of liming h21 e been investigated and results have
varied considerably from mill to mill. E-i[owever, it is quite likely that
a change in method of liming might hare a beneficial effect a t a mill
producing a poor filtering sugar. A summary of small scale clarification
trials carried out on C.P.29/116 cane from South Queensland in 1950
wed the following results, referring to the method of liming after
eating a s 100. (Refer circular of 14th February, 1951.)

JAning after heating ... .....

Liming before heating . . ....
Fractional liming .. ..... ... ...... ... 46
Rentonite and liming after heating ...... ..... 95
Saccharate lming aiter heating ..... ... ...... ...... 137
P203 added and liming before heating ..... ..... 119
PZO; added and liming after heating ..... ...... ...... 145
P205 added and saccharate lirning after heating . . . . . . . . 179
Sugm Boding.-'The work a t the pan station can affect the quality
of the raw sugar. Good sugar boiling can help to alleviate, although it
t annot eliminate, the evils of poor clarification; or poor sugar boiling
may spoil the efl-ect of good clarification. 'l'he making of sugar of g 4
grain characteristics can play a big part in producing a good filtering
sugar.
Trials have shown that a raw sugar inferior both in raw and
afined filterability can be obtained if subjected to severe undersatura-
tion during boiling; there is a tendency to absorb and occlude insoluble
material in the crystal lattice although the nrechanisrn of occlusion is not
known to us. I'ndersaturation can be caused by-
( a ) poor feed distribution;
( b ) poor circulation;
(c) frequent changes of boiling temperature;
( d ) frequent cleaning of the strike.
The effect of undersaturation Is shown by the following figures
obtained on the Iiesearch Department experimental pan in five different
lets of material.
aterid
with Frequent
Undersa~ratim
Raw 11.6 8.7 gals./sq.ftjhr
9.4 4.9 ,, 97
>9

17.4 7.0 ,, 9, )7

13.2 2.1 ,, 9 >>

15.3 4.3 ,, 99 9)

The grain characteristics of raws in their effect on filterability are

probably known to most mill chemists. In a normal quadratic crystal,
if the breadth (or the Z axis) is halved the crystal surface area of a
definite weight of sugar is approximately doubled. As most oi' the im-
purities are on the surface it is apparent that a large grain is an advant-
age as far as filterability is concerned. Refineries subject raw sugar to
a washing or afination process before it is melted, and it is in this stage
that tlle grain characteristics can inHuence subsequent filtesability a t
the filter station. An investigation of grain charactertistics in afination
shon-ed:
( a ) 'T'hat in the gristed fractions of a raw sugar the raw filterability
and quality of the sugar decreases as the grain size decreases.
(b) 'I'hat aAination improves all the main grain sizes to the same
extent, but the original superiority of the large grained ram- is
maintained after affination.
( c ) 'I'hat conglon~erateand zggregate grain have a bad effect on
afiination. The improvement in filterability on dination n-as
up to 40 per cent. lower than with regular grain.
It nould appear that a large icgular grained raw, free of conglom-
erate, aggregates and fines is an aid towards better filterability.
Polariratio?2.--As a general rule the higher the qualit) of the sugar
tlie Iiigher the filterability. A sugars usually have higher filterabilities
than B sugars a t the same mill.
Storugr.-It has been found that the filterability of raw sugar does
fiat fall on storage ox er a considerable period provided no deterio~ation
of thc s ~ l g occurs.
~r
T h u , the factors affecting the filterabilit) of rav ~ u g a l sas WC
know them are outlined above. They should be an aid in the campaign
to improve the filterability af our sugars ancl little or no expense is
i~lvolvedconcerning the application or trial of any factor.
If yous sugars are low in filterability then you might consider the
adoption of a variation most likely to improve the filterability. Of
course it is realised that circumstances might make this difficult a t
times; fol instance, the presence of refractory juices may pieclude the
possibility of lifting the pH in clarificarion and some other modification
may be necessary.
The C.S.R. proposes t o issue a circalar t o all mills incorporating
most of what has been outlined above. If Managers and Chief Chemists
will add this knowledge to that which they already possess on this sub-
ject of filterability and endeavour t o apply it t o their mill, they will ke
doing a service to the industry in its endeavour t o hold our position in
important overseas markets.
MR. TKIVIIXT mentioned that the new filter is simple and small,
the test can be done in 30 minutes, the control is easl-, and the filter is
of practical use in any sugar mill.
Discussion
I I R . JEXKINS asked whether raw sugar filterabilities were worse
non than in 1034. AIR. TR1ITEX'"T"answered that there was a rise in
the filtesabilit> of raw sugars from 1932 to 1939, the results of the
eifolrs of the industry to improvr sugar quality. Alter 1916 the filtei-
ability cldined. due to the effects of stale cane and of burning.
blR. CLAT'I'ON said that all were indebted to the C.S.R. Cornpanj
for their work on filterability. I n the past, a pH of 7.5 for clarified
juice via> common, but in the last 10 to 15 years, our ideas had bcen
modified by the change in material. Fle doubted nhether many mill?
could r,ln no^ with a pH as hiqh as 7.5, because the buffer capacity of
the juice5 now was very high. 1-arietai effect was also very important.
I'erhap. the ube of soda ash would be beneficial in cnabling a higher
p I l to be maintained vithoirt the use of excebsi~equantities of lime.
LTR. ?'RI\ E r l ' r agrced that the use of soda ash had a lot of merit.
ancl warlanted investigation. One mill had increased the pH used, and
had folrnd an irnprovernent in iilterability.
AIR. DKINNEN baid h a t Kingera mill worked at low PIT values
duiing the eally fortie.., but, now that the capacity of the clarifiers had
been e~r-'rnded,1he5 could experlrnent xith alterations in p H during
the corning season.
MR. WEBSTER said the mills could experiment along the lines
supgestcd by Mr. Trivett. I-le enquired regarding the effect of rnacera-
tion temperature on extraction.
hlR. TRl\ E l T told Mr. Brebster that, from his experience, the
drop in extraction with a change floni liot to cold macetation was about
0.3 to 0.5 units.
DR. KERII said that the S u g a r Reseaicli Institute !,ad uhtainecl n
a m p i e of sugar having a filterability below one gallon pm square koot
per hour. and had attempted to itolate the substance iesponsible for
the poor filterabilty. Precipitation of the polysaccharicles was followed
by consiclerdble irnprox enient in hlterability, but when pdysaccharides
were added to a sugar of high iilterability the filtration rate was not
affected as seliously as expected. Attention was then di~ectedtowards
iron phosphate and the previous experience was repeated. However,
when both iron phosyhate and polysaccharides were added t o a sugar
the iilterabilitq- was reduced seriously. Hence the phenomenon of the
low filterability appeared to be associated with a combination of iron
phosphate and polysaccharides. These could be incorporated in the
crystal stlucture and escape removal in the afination process. T t had
bem suspected that poor filterabilities were associated with certain
varieties of cane and the variety C.P.29/116 had been closely studied in
this connection.
MR. TRIVE'TT said that the resea~ch chemists of the C.S.R.
Company were a t present concentrating efforts on a study of the cause
of low filterability.
T h e CLTAlRhlAN thanked M r . Trivett and asked him to convey
the thanks of the Society to the C.S.R. Company for their etiorts.

No formal meetings of the Committee were held during the

gear, but the members of the Committee maintained contact with each
other.
From the discussion which took place at the L953 conference it was
apparent that the economic aspects of the coefficient of work were
not considered t o be of primary importance. &lore emphasis on the
technical features of the c.c.s. formula was called for.
 Some work to this end uas ca~riedout by the Bureau of Sugar
Experiment Stations and the results have been recorded briefly in the
hlill Research Programme Committee report. The testa point to no de-
finite conclusions beyond showing that the combined effects of nature
of carre, degree of preparation and extraction a t the first squeeze are
so variable as to make it certain that the existing fornlulae must often
be greatly in error.
Supporting evidence is to be found in the paper contributed by Er.
C;. .lthelton to the current Pioceedings (page 23 5 ) . The curves rqlro-
duced on page 240 show that the relationship between brix of first ex-
pressed juice and brix in cane is influenced by preparation and extrac-
tion. 111 the case of the pol, the same effects are further complicated b)
puxit) trends. Clearly there is room for considerable further reseatch
irt t h h mattel.
Other matters bearing on the functions of the Committee dre as
folio\\-a :-
Weight-Sucrose Control
( a ) The present ~ r o c e e d i n ~contains
s a paper by 1,. E. Davies
M hich brings up to date a "Comparison of mill chemical control between
the standard c.c.s. method and mixed juice sucrose weighing method
using Mulgrave hlill Data." The opinions expressed by Mr. Davies and
the conclusion he has reached are all in line with the views of this
committee.
\ b ) The present proceedings also contain a paper by K. J. S.
Lluir on ' T h e Necessity for the hlaximum Liaison between millers and
growers", in which a very clear indication is given that, under certain
conditions, growers would look with favour on the introduction uf juice
weighing machines and adjusted c.c.s. values for cane payment purposes.
This desire for greater accuracy in the measulement of recoverable
sugar entering Queensland mills, on the part of the growing section of
the industry is a step of great importance towards the successful appli-
cation of the Committees recommendations.
( C ) Two mills, one co-operative and one proprietary, have now
installed mixed juice scales for operation in the 1954 crushing season.
(d) In his report on "Sugar 'I'eclinology Overseas," C. M-.Kaddell
reiers to various aspects of the c.c.s. formula and draws attention to the
grtming use of mixed juice weighing by tank scales and static head
type of equipment for both factory control and cane payment purposes.
(See Annual Report of Chairman and (kneral Secretary to 27th
.Ilinual Conference of Q.C.G.A.)
Attention has also been drawn t o work on the cane-mixed juice-
bagasae x~eighingproblem a t Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the Jnlperial
College of Tropical Agriculture a t Trinidad. Experimental crushing
plant tests have indicated that evaporation of mater and release of
carbon dioxide gas from cane cells d u ~ i n gcrushing accounted for differ-
ences in the weight balance of up to 1; pei cent. on cane; but since this
weight errol occurs in the %eight of bagasse hy difference," a product
containing a low percentage of sucrose. it does not seriously d i s t u a ~the
accurac) of a pal or sucrose balance.
( e ) In his report on "Sugar RZanuEacture in the Caribbean Area
and IT.S.A.," C. B. Venton also lefers t o the fact that all factories visited
had juice scales; man) operated the IIowe and Foxboro units in series
so as to make comparisons, arid now in many place6 only the latter
machines are used. I l c points out that fibre figures are determined
florn cane and juice weights and bagasse analysis, and that very small
und~terminedlosses are reported in pol balances.
Award Scale Forn~ula
During 1%5 a review was made by the Central Sugar Cane Prices
Board of its award scale formula, particularly as regards an upward
revision of the bases of 12 per cent. c.c.s. and 90 coeificient of work in
the light of state-wide average performances in recent years.
I-lowever, no alterations were made.
Indvidual fibre tests
A paper entitled "'Effective Fibre Determinaticm in Sugar Cane,"
by C. W. Waddell was discussed a t the 8th Congress of the I.S.S.C.T.
in April, 1953.
A consitlerable amount oi research on this subject is at present in
hand in Queensland, South Alrica and Hawaii, particularly with a view
to finding satisfactory incentives for the supply of better topped, cleaner
and fresher cane.
Particular reierence to this subject is made in Mr. hfuir's paper on
pages 18-19 of the present Proceedings.
Conclusion
This Committee cannot report that any c-lcar cut finality has been
reached in all the far reaching technical and econoniic problcrns which
weIe embraced by its original terms of reference.
IIowever, the foregoing summary of activities towarda a solutwn of
many of these problenls shows that considerable progress has been
made d u ~ i n gthe past 12 months.
It maj- be also claimed that ali s e ~ ~ i o of
n s the sugar industrj today
have a better understanding of the problems involved and a growing
willingness t o encourage measures foi achieving greater accuracy and
(~verallefficiency.
J. L. Clayton
H. W. Rerr
C. W. Wadclell
Discussion
AIR. A'I'HEII'PON stated that. from the work lie had carried out
on the expression of juices in staaes. he had been unable t o form ccm-
clusions. The scatter of points on the graphs had shown no definite
trends. A l a ~ g enumber of tests would have to be done, before definite
relationships could be established.
h l R . CAhIERON rno\ ed that the report be adopted. MR. KENNJ'
seconded the motion.
31
 'I'he CHrZIRAlAN asked if a continuation of this committee was
desir&l. AIIi. BEHNE said that committee had been formed years ago
t o invehtigate specific problems. IIe thought that the committee should
be continued in the hope that some good n-ouid result. tIe moved, and
AIR. ITI-I17 - K E R seconded, that the conmlitiee continue its work.

(This report was presented to Conference !)y RIR. C. B. LEISTON)

The Comnlittee did not meet ofhcially duiing the !e a l , plincipally
because the &W development of t h e srhelrrc to liandle law sugar in
bulk did not warrant special eiloits to ailange meetings. Ilowever,
individual members met informally on several occasions and exchanged
information.
I t has been decided that the C'ommittee's report take the f o ~ mof a
Lumnlary of and comments on the pi-csent plans for the scheme.
Following the acceptance by the Governme~ltof the repoit prepared
by C.S.1-l. engineels icgarding thc feasibility ui bulk handling at seveial
ports, Aiessrs. Riacl)onald, Wagncr and Piitlctlc n cl c appointed ronsult-
ing engineers to the Sugar Boald for the design ut bulk termmals. About
the same time a Consultative Conlrnittee of the industry was set up t o
ad\ ise the (hvernment. This Coninlittee ccmists o f hlessls. Evans and
Pearce of -4.S.P.A., F'oley and hluir of Q.C.C.C., Wheen and Coates of
C.S.1-l. Co., and the Chairman, Sccreta~yand members of the Sugar
Bcnrd. Representatives of the Department of H a ~ b o u r sand Marine,
the Iiailxvz-ays and the Tieasulr l ave attended meeting. of the Com-
mittee.
The Consultative Committee recornnmded that RIacllonald,
M-agner and Priddle send engineers overseas t o inspect certain bulk
sugar terminals before deciding on the type to adopt heie.
The initial plan was for the building of two installationb-at Lucinda
and LIackay. (Incidentally it has not been possible to ascertain who
is responsible for this decision). The engineels have prepared plans
for these terminals and these were approved by the Consultative Com-
mittee in January, 1054. They have been sent t o the hlinister for Agri-
culture and St~cl; fcr bubmission to Cabinet for approval but up till
15th March n o decision had beell made.
I t is understood that the A-frame type of store has been chosen for
both installations, the capacities being 67,000 tons a t Lucinda and
130,000 tons a t Mackay. Each is expected t o cost about 1,000,
'The shed a t Lucinda is t o cost more as a unit than that a t Mackay
and of colme, very much more per ton of capacity, because of the need
for very costly foundations. It is reported that the sheds are each to
hale a span of 150ft. whilst the Lucinda one will be about 500ft. long
and that at hlackay about 1,000ft. long. The Committee understands
that provision will be made a t hlackay for the ddivery of sugar by rail
and road and that at each port the conveyor equipment is t o handle
an intake of 250 tons of sugar per 211. and a discharge of GO0 tons per hr.
It appears that at the moment, the terminals at Lucinda and
AIackaj- will be completed and tested before other installations are
commenced. 'The sugar millers are endeavouring t o prrsuade the
Sugar .Board that the bulk handlijlg of raw sugar is beyond the ex
mental stage overseas and thal there should be nu reason t o fear that
tile initial units will give serious trouble.
So iar, however, the only known development in regard t o other
ports is the tentative reservation of land a t Cairns for a bulk store. It
is well known that interested organisations are trying to have Mourilyan
Harbour equipped for bulk. shipping, but as yet their efforts seen1 to
have had lit.& success. '&S Committee understands that expert. engi-
neering surveys of the harlsuur are necessary to study alterations that
would have to be made t o enable large ships t o enter the harbour. I t
seems that if this advice can bq obtained by the interested parties their
claim xz-ill bc taken more seriously. The other carnplicntion is that tile
authorities apparently take it for granted rhat, in any event, hlourilyau
will be suitable only for coastal steamers. It appears too, that the Gov-
ernnlent intends to equip h w e n as a bulk port eventually, against the
it-ishes of the millers concerned.
This Committee shares the concern felt by some millers a t the slow
rate of progress and the apparent trend in policy, but fecls that the
i d u s t r y has not done as well as it might on the technical side. .For
instance, the ability of the Constrltative Committee to give adequate
consideration to the technical aspects of the scheme is open to question.
Surely the industry which has spent large sums in sending some of its
leading technologists overseas t o study, amongst other things, the bulk
handling of sugar, could have seen to it that the services of one or
two of these men were made available.
When the matter of bulk handling was first raised somc six or
seven years ago the industry generally hoped that most of the anomalies
in the direction of sugar traffic in Queensland would be eliminated. But
now there are signs that these or similar anomalies will be perpetuated
and this Cormnittee is concerned that with the present trend the bulk
handling scheme may not be carried out to the best technical or cconornic-
advantage to the industry as a whole.
A p a ~ tfrom the obvious fact that the industry did not decide on
the first two ports t o be equipped for bulk handling, it seems as though
it will have little say in the selection of other terminals. Similarly the
industry should be more concerned with the alrangements the R a i l n a p
pwpose making for their part in the transport of bulk sugar, a s it is
understood that their first suggestions ale likely to involve serious
unneces>ai)- expenseb. I t is repotted that the railnays would prefer t o
use ordinary steel waggons with the usual tarpaldins to cover them. It
is p l o p o d that the tarpaulins are to be handled at the bulk terminal
in much thc same way as they are now, and it is obvious that if unload
ing at the rate of 250 ton:, of sugar per hr. 1 5 intencied. the labour cost.
and ol time lost in re~novingthe toners, folding them, etc., will bc high.
T h e inclustl! would r a ~ h e rsee f a t waggons equipped with light steel
boxes uaeci. The Former procedure would involve only standard railwa?
equipment and a tippler n-ould be used at the terminal but in the
alternati~e scheme the i ailwa! 5 hat c tcr p1 w i d e the boxes v luch n o d d
be fitted with top-hi11~eddo01 s on one 4ide s o that they could be emptied
Ilv tipping.
33
 Although the initial cost o; the boxes would have to be considered,
it is claimed that the savings in handling them would soon meet the
initial cost. After all the indnstrr as a whole is to pay fot the entire
scheme and it seems reasonable tbat it should have a major say in the
policy to bc adopted so as to ensure that the schemc will be acceptable
generally and the most ecor~on~ical possible.
I t is learned that the bulk terminal at the Pprmont refinery, to hold
200,000 tons of sugar, will be read!- for use during 1954.
Present indicaticns are that indilidual mills will be required to
attend to their own bulk handling facilities. I t appears that provision
is being made to stole about 75 per cent. of a district's annual make a t
the seaboard terminal, so that mill storage capacity will not be larg
Rlr. I'enton saw several bulk sugar installations a t individual mills
in and around the Caribbean area and has expressed surprise at the
outstanding success some places have had with very simple facilities.
Perhaps some of the:? procedures will be suitablr to factories here.
I t appears that in the nct far distant future the building of the
Mackay terminal will be commenced and that factories in this area
will have to consider their arrangements. The Committee offers its
services to any mill seeking assistance in the choice of equipment for
bulk sugar.
C. Gallagher

J. H. Nicklin
C. K. 1-enton
iscusi

It. I'tZUIR said he was sulp~isedat the critical note of the report.
It was the idea of the Sugar Boald to consult the technologists on the
operation of the bulk handling facilities. After receiving the report of
Mr. Plomley (C.S.R. Co.) on his trip overseas, a film of consultants
w a s directed t o design thc bulk terminal. It n a s recommrnded that the
first installations be built a t Lucinda Point and hlackay. Ilembers of
the Society would be ccncerned with the problems associated with bulk
handling in their own district.;, and the Committee would be called
upon to serve in a consultative rapacity.
h4It. PEAKCE said that, regarding the choice of ports, nothing
could be done until a bulk handling receiving terminal existed. Lucinda
Point would always be a coastal trade port, and a lot of sugar was
ackay to Australian refineries.
AIR. DlTlTS asked how the sugar nould be transported from mill
to port. MR. I N J I R replied that the rnattcr had been discussed with
the Railway Department, and the present idea was t o carry the sugar
in boxes on W wagons.
R. GIBSON supported the selection of hiackay and Lucinda.
2airns had been surveyed for the erection of sheds, and Townsville also
xas to be equipped.
 MR. CLAU'VON sdid char t h e repolr had brought out the difi
culties associated th bulk handling, and was useful from that respect.
STe ma, critical of the selection of a firm of consultants who knew
nothing about the handling of sugar in bulk. The committee was also
critical about t h e handling o f sugar in the shipments which had already
gone overseas. There hacl been no attempt to use modern methods ef
loading. The system way practically as crude and laborior~sa, it hail
been for the i i n t bulk shipment several veal&before.
The report was adopted on the motion cif MR. DUUS, secondeci
 Thursday, 22nd April, 1954
Afternoon Session

INISTRATIVE S
Chairman: E. W. D I N S

Paper: "Stale Cane

r,
i h i s paper was presented b!, the author.

iscussion:
MR. HI-(;I-II.:S congrat~ilatecithe author, and asked him had he
iatdated micro-organisms from the cane. M R . WADDELL answered
that nothing had been done on these lines. MR. CIil-RC'Hi&'001)
suggested that the Canegmmers' Cou~lcilsend a cop) of the papcl to all
farmers. He added that he aim a>s tried to educate his own cutters with
regard to thc. bri~ningOF cauc. 3IR. DGIIS considered that broadcasts
over the air on this bubject would be impractical.
MR.BOI'RKI;: %,lidthdt it u a s a ploblern h the industr> and not
for individual glowers. h l R . C'OIT\iiT' d f t e ~congratulating h h . iydd-
dcll on his papcl, a&ed him if he had comidrred losses In cane on
trucks lathe1 than in the field. MR. F$';lI>DELL, ansuered that bund-
ling tests had been conducted to simulate the effect of stacking on
trucks, and had shown that bundl~ngnab an aid to detcrioraticin.
TvIK. JENKJNS said that stale cane losses were very important
to millers as well as to growxs. hlR. \$TADUELL su1,portrd Air.
jenkins in this statement.
The C:II.4IllA,1.4N closecl the discussion.

aper: '"The Necessity for the

MR. M1;Ili briefly outlined his paper.

AIR. FAJlQl_-HA1R co~nmcntedon hIr. hluir's paper cbpecially in

respecr to extraneous mattor. Farleigh had experienced up to 10 pel
cent. extlaneous matter from which nu sugar could be produced. The
suppliers to the mill had asked the mill management to look into Mr.
Waddell's recommendat~onswith regard t o individual fibres. Limited
tests would be conducted a t Falleigh this season. This should be done
~t many mills, to improve the quality of their cane. Other mills in thc
a w a would have to participate in the campaign, or industrial troubles
~vc)uldbe precipitated at Farleigh.
 MR. POlN7I*ON said that Mr. Best had presented a paper on
extraneous matter in 11940. Mr. Muir had said at that time that. it was
a matter between miller and growet. The penalty for dirty cane was
generally t.aken by the farmer and not passed on to the cutter. The
cutters must d o the improving, not the growers. All mills would have
to co-operate in this matter.
MR. WEESTER pointetl out that the c.c.s. fc,lmula was based on
clean cane, and, while prchasing cane according to that formula. the
miller was entitled t o receive clean cane.
lTIR commented that both the grower and miller lose b j
dirty cane, ancl something had to be done to improve matters. XT w o d d
be possible to employ some of the mill staff, during the slack season,
to educate the farmers t o send in clean cane. Individual fibres would
provide an incentive to send in clean cane. because, under the group
fibre test. there is no advantapc i n sending in clean cane.
N said it was a g d idea to get 15 to 20 fanners
sold on the idea, and to use these as troop leaders for the rest. T h e
difficulty was to reach even a portion of the farmers. They must be
convinced that it mould be to their advantage. Ile disagreed with
individual fibres on one point: the farmer would be comparing his fibres
with his neighbour, whilst thc mill was concerned with actual quality-,
not with comparative clualities.
MR. SESTERO doubted if Mr. Muir's campaign would be suc-
cessful where tops forrned most of the extraneous matter, which was
the position today.
MR. IYAIIDE,IdI, quoted the following hhre percentage5 from a
test done on a stick of cane sliced up just as the cutters do.
Fibw
1. Section of s t d k below normal topping point I I.? per z n t .
2. First intr.~node above this 12.8 ., ,,
3 q e x t internotie 14.2 ,, ,,
4. Terminal bud section 14.4 ,, ,,
5. Spindle section 1.5 , ,,
6. Leaves 38.0 ,, ,,
H e also baid that cane 12 clehveled to the mill with quite a lot of
dry leaf sheaths which contain 80-90 per cent. hbro and lhar the fibre
of badIy topped cane rises consider ably.
MR. DRTNNEN supported Mr. %'adclell in that fibre rises rapidly
with the presence of top
MR. DOTLE agreed that liaison between miller and grower
was a pcmd thing. 1he farmer realiscd the cause of extraneous matter.
, l

but his difficulty was t o control the cutters, who were often very ineffi-
cient. In an area like Mackay uniform demands on the cutters should
be made.
MR. MI'IR. replying to Mr. Doyle, said that cutters could be
contrdled to a greater degree than they were. Growers should get an
incentive from the mill to control their cutters, and get clean cane by
37
individual fibres. Mr. Ihple said that the incentive must come f ~ o m
the farmers, and with prices as they were today, the farmer could not
stand the extra cost.
MR. CIATTOl\i thought that a confusion of ideas existed. h4r.
iiIuir looked upon the determination of individual fibres as a means of
reducing the average fibre content of the cane. It might be more
economical for the industry as a whole to accept low standards of
cleanliness in cane provided that equitable distribution of moneys could
be maintained. Individual fibres might allow us t o cope with ex-
traneous matter yet still maintain the principle of payment for recover-
able sugar.
MR. YARQTTHA1l said that extraneous matter was a matter
the economy of the whole industry. Wc have been forced
sugar quotas by falling overscas values, and more ecomornical
the factory was necessary. Filterability of sugar appeared t o
drop with the ineficiency of clltting.
hlli. IZ1TTIR. replying to Mr. Clayton, said that the Hawaiians
were very worried about extraneous matter, as their methods of
harvesting produced very dirty cane. It night be that the determination
of individual fibres was the bcst way t o meet the problem.

Paper: "Cane Suppl itional Cane Tlvcks to

hlR. PRICE presented his paper.

Discussion:
In conlrnenting c m the paper hIR. PRINClti: said that hlos\man
Mill had 1,100 trucks for a cmshing late of 60 tons pel hour, bur this
rate had been increasecl to 8.7 tons per hour. T h e r r f o r ~ since
, 0.00 per
100 was the cost of tlucks in hlossnlan, ottle~avenue,. had to he investi-
#ated. Every truck had been tagged, and from this the average deldy
on each truck was determined. It was found that the turn-round of
trucks could be speeded up. This was thc nic s t itnportant factor in
truck requirements.
MR. P R I C E did riot agree xith hlli. PRINCE. Even with a
speedy turn-round of trucks, he argued that there was a case in favour
of extra trucks to hold a reserve supply of cane.
MR. GIBSON said that Mr. Price had not brought out the high
cost of cane transport on Saturdays, when wages were on a double-time
basis.
MR. P R I C E explained that Isis hiill allotted so many trucks per
day, and kept a reserve of trucks. As the week progressed, more
reserve trucks were put into service.
AM/IR.McCtIRBIN said that
some of the cane, and he oppose
that by careful organisation n o tru
no cane was subjected to lengthy storage on trucks.
The CHAIRMAN closed the discussion.
 MR. PRINCE presented this paper.

MR. DUTTS commented that in this subject finance as \yell as

technology had t o be considered.
. VENrI'ON queried how the authors arrived a t the statement
that one per cent. decrease in 104s in lnolasses would give an extra 485
tons of bugal. T h e reduction in purity from 50 t o 13 for Mossman's
molasses would g i ~ ea recovery of 694 ton\ sugar: he asked how one
unit saved could give the amount quoted.
MR. KENNY replied that the one per cent. decrease had been
worked out on a pol balance basis, using a tonnage of 300,000 tons
cane, a t a rate of XOO t.c.h. instead of the actual Mossman figures.
AIR. WEBSTEK agreed wit11 the authol's comments on the cost of
poor work and asked how r. Prince had calculated 1.5 units lost
c.c.s. per ton cane, per hour stop. He considered that one hour's stop
would result in only one hour's proportional drop in c.c.s.
MR. PRINCE explained that there were two ways of discussing
h i s problem:--
(a) considering the loss in c.c.s. incurred by delaying the cutting
of one batch of 100 tons cane, from the time, of the mppage,
to the end of the season, based on the average d m p in c.c.s.
over this period.
( b ) considering that the stoppage had merely put back the cutting
of each succeeding 100 tons cane by one hour, with its conse-
quent small drop in c.c.s.
The resuir obtained by the simple calculation in (a) and
the sum of all the small drops in c.c.s. for each batch of 100
tcns cane subsequent to the stop, as in (b), would be rhe
same. A similar argument co~aldbe used with respect t o rhe
growing time of ratoon cane.
GIAUTON agreed with Mr. Prince's reasoning, but said that
ce had taken the worst possible case; that is. an hour's, stop a t
the peak of the season: an hour lost a t the beginning of the seascm
could yield a gain.
I 7
l his phase of thc paper was discussed a t some length without
agreement being reached.
MR. STAliNTON reierrrd to two speakers in the morning session;
one had stressed the technological phase and the other the agricultural
phase of the sugar industry. The paper- under discussion dealt with an
administration phase. When speaking of additional equipment and
poor work of existing equipment it was necessary to decide what
recovery could be gained, with increased clushing rate. Graphs and
curves on economic facets would be helpful.
39
 Chairman : J. 1%.
er: "A Review of the Sugar Deterioration

21R. A711Al,I.EJ discussed his paper in some detail.

The C i i \ I R h I . ~ N thanked Mr. Whalley for his paper. It drew

attention t o the problem of deterioration a t a time when most mills had
little interest in the subject, because losses after February were borne
collectively and nut individually.
MR. E;1';NNI7 saict that Mossman Mill had been using galvanized
iron on sand floors, and the hags did not sweat unless there were holes
in the iron. MR. WI'IAI,I,ETr remarked that joins in the iron ~ o u l d
have the sarnz effect as hdes in the iron. At Kalamia they had tried
bituminous paints ta seal concrete floors, but they were not as good a s
sisalkraft. Paint m-ould not stand u p t o traffic.
MR. JENKINS, speaking of drying agents, said that activated
bauxite, a local product, could be used for cases like this. h4R. CLARKF:
remarked that they had found glazed brown paper placed 6n green
concrete floors had been far more effective than sisalkraft. The type of
paper used was a type A waxed brown paper.
MR. l>RI?I'NEN had found that three treatments c,f an old con-
crete Aoor with sodium silicate had proved very effective. New concrete
fl(m~sat BingeLa would be treated for the coming season. DR. KERR
said that mixing sodium silicate with the top layer of cement had proved
effective a t the Sugar Research Institute for underground walls. He
asked Mr. WhalIey if refrigeration could he used t o keep humidity dowa.
XIR. SAITNDERS said that the sugar room a t Marian h511 was
all w:od. with the cracks filled up with concrete. Only the first layer
of sacks had ever been affected, and that was on the side where the
draught of air came through the door.
MR. NTHALLEY replied to questions saying that in their tests,
three coats of quartzite had been applied a t 24 hour intervals. I t
would have been better t o mix the silicate with the concrrte. Refriger-
ation was a definite possibility.
M R . SLOAN stated that in the Innisfail area deterioration was a
big p r h l e m . Sweating was reduced considerably by leaving small spaces
between the stack and the wall of the shed. It had been found neces-
sarv t o "parcel" the stack, rather than hang sisalkraft down thc sides.
It had becn noted that once deterioration had started, it developed
rapidly.
 LlR. GALIA<;HEII said that the first requisite was the production
of properly conditioned sugar. since it was not possible t o stop deteilora-
tion in a bad sugar. IIc asked if sugar a t 0.1 moisture. bagged a t
ambient temperature, would keep under most conditions.
MR. WHXLLEY replied that conditioning was not the whde story
as the rnicrtrorqanisms contained on the sugar could start deterioratiorl
if moisture were taken up. However, such a sugar stacked in a g m d
statd in properly constructed sheds had a g m d chance of stayin? as it
was. R e said that in Cuba, sugar had been stacked on the grtrund cov-
ered with ormoncrid. and sisalkraft was used to cover the stack.
hlR. LTEL\jTONcsplaincd that this was an exceptional case, as all
sheds 15ere full. and there was no choice, MR. DUITS said that in the
illaquin refinery store the Amr consisted of four inches of concrete,
thea one eighth inch of concrete, then one eighth inch bitumen, topped
bp three inches of concrete. No covering for the stacks was needed
now although sisalkraft had been used for the first year whilst the Rmr
was drying out. This idea was being tried a t Qunaba.
h1R. CAMERON said that until last season. steam drying was
the practice a t Isis. and they had sugar troubles.
adopted. and during the season, the pol of bugar was 99 and over.
However a t the end of the season, the pol was about "1, indicating
deterioration. A rnlcroscopic examination had shown the presence ctf
a large number of yeast cells in the water dried sugar. N o yeast cells
were found in the steam dried sugars, due possibly t o the sterilization
by beat.
hlR. REWNE remarked that when the practice of hosing down the
Aoolr: of the supar sheds had been discontinued, the bottom bags of che
stacks had n o t shown any deterioration. R. WADDEIAZA had been
interested in enclosing the stack with a plastic envelope. but it was too
expensive arrd a t South Johnstone 11 was tboupht that paper was the
cheapest means of preventing deterioration.
The CHAIRMAN closed the discussion.

er: "Comparison of 1 Ghelnical Control between the Stan

hTIi. DAVIES in presenting his paper said that it had been found
that during the early part of the scason, the pol of rnixcd juice was
alwa) a higher than the sucrose content. This was probably due t o the
presence of dextran or similar material. Towards the middle of the
season the ptd and sucrose came together, and then gums could not be
yrecipitated from the juice. With molasses, the pol and s u c r o e deter-
mination~ were very nearly equivalent. Mrdasses scales. formerly
checked weekly, were now calibrated every day. The comparative
figures of pol and sucrose of rnixed juice for the 1153 season had just
been completed, and the same trend, as for previous seasons, was
indicated.
 R l R . YENTON presented a commentary on h1r. Davies' paper,
p r e p a r d b 7 - MR. HOKT
(hlr. Horton's comment. printed in full, is a s follows.)

I t i~ d w r e d t o make the following comment. The sponsoring of

t h c installation a t Mulgrave was not quite as set out. The actual facts
are that as a result of conversations between Dr. Kerr, then Director
of Sugar Experiment Stations, and the writer, a joint arrangement waa
made between the Bureau, Messrs. E.S.C.A. Ltd. and 'I'hompson,
Castlen~aineLtd. by which td. agreed t o supply the
on a trial or return basis, and the three sponsors agreed t o
scales on a basis that if they were not taken over each would
d of the cost. Fortunately, as the paper sets out, the mill was
very happy to keep the scales, and their installation may as yet prove to
have been, what it was intended to be, a turning point in the method of
control in the Queensland factories.
T h e purpose of the installation was threefold. irstly, it was an
attempt t o show that! the C.C.S. formula varied so much that its very
variation tended to obscure real improvements when they occurred and
that results deduced from it might even obscure real lasses and show
them as gains; secondly to show that the only real basis of factory
accountancy is sucrose and that the useeof C.C.S. as a basis is foolish;
and thirdly t o show that by proportionmg the maceration rate to the
amount of fibre passing through a mill a better average use of the
maximum amount of wztel which could be used would he obtained.
It was for this reason that a '"rate meter"' and not a positive meter
was installed for the measurement of the water.
It remains t o be scen how far these ideals have been attained in
practice. So far most of the result seems t o have been to try and
reconcile "sucrose" with G.C.S.---an impossible feat.
x-ect answer is t o say-yes, we have t o buy C.C.S., and it is
n c t measuring stick commercially, but its use t o evaluate
factory c"c.iencv is nil, so let's away with it and confine our f a c t a q
c~Kick:xy ;.lid ccn:ioI t o sucrose-then and then only shall we p l l the
blinkers from our eyes and get down to really leliable comparative
results.
As ds the second, I do not know how f a r we have
but-ju from Dr. Kerr9s admirable paper on "The
Cane," in which he points out we are macerating fibre and not cane -
not very far. T have myself seen such flow meters in use graduated in
revolutions of the first mill engine, and in terms of tons cane per hour.
I n both cases there was a slip scale so that a suitable rate of maceration
could be set and after that the water was adjusted to follow the speed
of the filst mill which is a t least some measure of the amount of fibre
going through the mill. Vniformity of maceration is the first essential
in obtaining the optimum usage of the amount of water which can be
evaporated in any given mill.
 I apologise if I have intruded at this stage into the discussion of
Dr. Kerr's paper and suggest that if so perhaps these comments may
be brought under review at the time that paper is read.
I also apologise, for dealing with this matter a t some length but I
feel that the installation a t Mulgrave is so important that the correct
facts regarding this pioneer installation should be place
tribute to Mr. Seyrnour Howe and Mr. Dmlan for obtaining the
consent of their Directors. and t o the commercial firms who carried the
greater part of the financial risk for what has been almost no return.
I t says much for the slow movement of the industry from traditional
methods of control that a t the foundation meeting of this Society a
resolution was vassed that all control should h e 0x1 a weight basis. that
two International Conferences have criticised us for the fact that our
control was a "deductive'bne and that as yet we have not had the
courage t o put our house in order. and still continue t o let ourselves be
fmled by that dear old fell r. Goeficient of Work.

MR. CLARKE asked r. navies how often the juice scales were
calibrated. MR. DRVIES swered that they were checked every day,
used was checked each year by the Department of

R. STERN asked what variation was found between

weights of tank discharge as calibrated each day. MR. DAVIES replied
that it might be one pound per tip a t one hundred tons per hour. The
scales were more accurate than the R o w meter for the maceration water.
Overseas practice wa weigh maceration water rather than to meas-
ure it by flow meter. lgrave Mill would also be installing bulk sugar
scales.

MR. VENTON said that he had seen several weighing machines

for maceration water overseas. Professor Keller, of Louisiana Uni-
versity, bad told him it was dificult t o get a material balance; howwer,
with excellent equipment he could get down to two per cent. disagree-
ment.
DR. KERR said that chemists realised the futility of basing coefi-
cient of work on the c.c.s. formula. Juice scales would be ideal as a
basis of control. He also commented on the closeness of the fibre figures
as found by the standard method and hv mvi~hing.

hZR. DAVIES explained that no allowance was made for steam in

the milling train, but a correction was made for the temperature of the
maceration watel: the flow.meter was a volume irlstrurncnt and was
checked against the juice scalrs.

MR. WADDELIJ quoted relevant passages from the sub-commit

tee's report on coefficient of work. H e could see the time coming when
growers would be paid on a c.c.s. based on juice scales: adjusted c.c.s.
would be used in the proprietary mills. He had'noted that the work on
individual fibres a t ulgrave Mill had agreed with the fibre by juice
weighing, but not with the group fibre figure.
 . STATTNTON supported the juice weighing procedure, and
said that an adjusted c.c.5. was not as important in co-operative mill:,
a, it trai in proprietary mills. 1% considered that the adjusted c . c . ~
figure was not the only way t o s o l ~ ethe problem, once juice scales were
installed.
MR. hlacCIRBO?; asked hir. Ilavies why the figutes given in the
paper were close for the years 1936-1942, b u t varied widely for 1942-
1950. 3lK. UAIrIF,9 replied that the variations may have been due to
extraneou, matter and dirt, but he could not give any definite inforrna-
ticm. Tknvever, during the last three seasons, hard varieties had been
crushed and these could have had an effect.
The CHAlRMi\N said that Mr. Whitaker had announced that
hulk sugar scales were being installed a t blulgrave for the coming
season. I t was expected that better control woultl be maintained in thr
factory.

Paper: "Preliminary Investigations into the

Substances other than Sucrose in Cane J
J. F. Kenny
hfR. KENXY introduced this paper. This work was undertaken
because Mossman illill had experienced abnormally low values for the
coefficient of work. I t was considered that some optically active sub-
stance in the cane juice was causing errors in the c.c.s. determinations.
T h e c<]-author of the paper, AlR. HlT(;HES, displayed samples of
material which had been precipitated from cane juice.

hlR. WfirZLLE3- pare an account of conditions a t Kalamia hIill

when the crushing season was prolonged into January and said that the
coefficient of wolk fell an-a!,. A few tests indicated that dextro-rotatory
non-suga~swele present in the juices. Stale cane gave juices of high
pol, due to dextro-rotatory substances. and this suggested that sucrose
control w d d be very desirable.
hlR. J E N K I N S remarked that the sucrooe in cane juice was orcr-
estimated when substances such as dextran were present. Dextran
also made the juices hard t o work, thus making losses higher.
hlK. HTiGHES spoke of the uses of dextran in loreign countries.
I-le suggested that overseas trrganisations should be contacted t o get
definite information on dextran. DR. KERK agreed that the authors
had isolated dextran. Overseas, dextran m-ab actually p r o d u c d by the
action of the micro-organism, Leuconostor m ~ s e n t e m i d e s ,on sugar
solutions. &lore work had to be donv a t the Sugar Research Trlstitute
on the acid hydrolysis of polysaccharides. During a favourable season
t h e ~ ewas little need to worry about dextrans. lTowever, the snbject
n a s imptrrtant with respect to the filterability of sugar. T h e fact that
the dextran produced from cane juice became discoloured on contact
with air might have been caused bqi iron compounds. This effecl of iron
hail been mentioned previously as affecting the filtel ability of sugars.
 MR. FOSTER contendcc1 that, assuming dextran was the p r d u c t
of bacterial action tmly, the difference between pol and sucrose found
R. DAVIES could not be attributed whdly t o dextran. Materials
such as xylarrs and pentosans could be contributing factors. More or
less ofi these materials was precipitated depending on the conceatratim
of the alcohol used.
The CHAIRMAN said that the paper pointed the way to iurther
work being done.

Paper: T h e Cons

This paper was presented by M R . DRTNNEN. Me sai

. ons in mill
paper was a plea for more accurate de * laboratories.
He also commented on the fact that ough Mill had the first
constant temperature control racrm in nd.

MR. VENTON mentioned sevcral air conditioning plants used in

the U.S.A. in hotel rcporns and laboratories, costing m l y 200-250 dollars,
and probably the same number of pounds (Ls) in Australia. 'Vhesc
units might prove t o be very convenient. He asked how the constant
temperature room a t Ringera could be controlled in cold weather. M R .
DRINNEN answered that radiators could be installed with sufficient
heat input t o enable the refrigeration unit t o operate and maintain 2 0 C
N if he could give an
n the coefficient of wo
or against the use of
air conditioned EN informed M R . WI-TALLEY
that the unit cost L850 plus L
DR. KERR said that i t was preferable t o d o brix and pol a t the
same temperature.
 'Tile Chai~nlanannounced that the two following papers would be
discus-xd together.

was impossible for him to be fast enough to beat the rate of rise in load
on the motors: therefore any form of rrier feed control was helpful.
Automatic control of the load of the fe motor solved the dificulty.
The use of a flywheel was fundan~enta en reviewing the load
teristics of knife motors. The author described steam driven
and said that some sort of signalling device should be placed on the
steam engine; however, this would give only 50 per cent. ~rotection
since slip in the belt was also a factor. The signalling device must be
on the knife shaft itself. The author outlined the system involved in
carrier control, with emphasis on simplicity of design.
MR. SALSKURY presented a summary of his paper and displayed
photographs of the knife drives and control cubicles a t Prosperine Mill.
H e iilustrated how the mat of cane was measured by a Killer plate which
was very effective in controlling the feed to No. 1 Mill.
iscussion on both papers.
Discussion:
MR. CLAYTON paid a tribute t o M r . Enever of Invicta Mill who
instituted the first step in automatic carrier control several years before
the events just described. Invicta used a control based on a liq
resistor. The liquid could be pumped into the tank, or drained out
actuatinp a solenoid operated plug. An ovcrload solenoid was used on
the knife motor and this acted on the motor driving the carrier. The
Hawaiians had introduced the Killer plate in the feed hopper of No. 1
R4ill during the early 1940's but they had never used it later in the train
as is done in Queensland.
AIR. CLARKE commented on the lost time mentioned by hlr.
Salsbnrp. Prior t o 1953, a tip, of their own design, had been installed.
It had been abandoned because the equipment codd not accommodate
the mat of cane presented by a tip. After new equipment had been
;nstallt.tl. the tip was replaced, and thcm, with automatic carrier control,
the mill was able to crush a t a much highcr rate.
46
 MR. WRIGEJT asked Mr. S a l s b u ~ yif the lost time mentioned was
total lost time or merely lost time due to knives. hlr. Salsbury replied
that one hour had been lost by the knife and carrier installation. T h e
total lost time was five houls.
hfR. l>T'lTS read out a comment written bq LlR. .ALLEiV of
Millaquin on the subject.
hlr. Men's comment, printed in full, is as follows:-
r. Forbes-Smith is most valuable. for it highlights
two important facts that have not been fully appreciated;
firstly -that a flywheel on drives such as knives can be of much value:
srcondl>- - that the flywheel must be conectly designed---an ordinary
cast iron flywhel (perhaps iecovered from the scrap heap) being of
little use for these purposes.
IYc had made some investigations a t hliflaquin and had reached
similar conclusions even without a suitable recording meter. Due to the
installation of a tip for tRc 1953 season peak loads on the shredder and
on both sets of knives were very heavy and interruptions due to excess
current o c ~ u r r e don quite a number of occasions, at the beginning of
the season. These were elimina~edby the installation of a permanently
connected slip resistor in the rotor circuits of the three motors concerned.
The slip resiator was particularly successful with the Searby shredder
nhicb has a considerabk inherent ywheel effect. Current variation
of 100 to 1.400 amps has been reduced t o a range of XOO t o 600 amps
and use is made of the Aywheel effect over thr range of 980 t o 700 r.p.m.
P 7

1he experiences a t Prosperine demonstrate that complete automatic

carrier control can be achieved, and the advantages have been painted
out.
Hrwever, it is not safe to infer that an arrangement. which has
pmved successful a t one r d l would be equally successful a t all other
mills.
I t appears that the range of carrier speed possible with this arrange-
menr \\-odd be from 24 to I6 feet per minute or similar figures- -that is
a speed range of about 1 t o 0.66.
This may be fairly satisfactory with all tipped cane but a t Milla-
quin and some other mills when cane is both raked and tipped the
variation in the amount of cane per unit length of carrier may be very
considerable. For instance a t lvlillaquin it was found that while an
average carrier speed for tipped cane %as about 15 feet per minute or
iess. average speeds for raked cane were very variable, some figures
taken beinp 17. 22. 30 and even 46 feet per second.
,"
Ihis gives a speed range of abor~t3 t o 1 but actually, to cope with
hea\ier patches of tipped cane in the carrier and lighter patches 04 raked
came a greater speed range still is desirable.
Flexible control of this nature is not possible with the usual ar-
ranpemmt of slip ring induction motor drive and of necessity the contrc~I
would either not allow a t all times the maintenance of optimum crush-
ing conditions or it would involve a considerable number of short
carrier stoppages which are wasteful so fa1 as efficient preparation is
concerned.
 t seems very desirable, if autorn
er conditions such as obtain a t
that a different arrangement be provided for the drive. Such alterna-
tives could be--
1. A.G. commutator motor drive;
2. D.C. motor (when D.G. available) ;
3. Ward Leonard System;
4. Hydraulic coupling;
. Ileenan dynamatic coupling.
The first four of these items are well known but. the last mentioned
seems new to Queensland sugar industry. A drive we are considering
provides a speed range of nearly 5 to l and control is such that the
carrier speed can be made responsive t o the loads on any or on all of
the knife and shredder motors, and also responsive (by means of
Killer plate or other device) to the amount of shredder cane in the
hopper.
The control is continuous over a large range of current and does
not merely come in a t one or two definite overloads. For this reason,
and remembering that the response of the coupling is very quick indeed
-it seems t o provide a means whereby most of the benefits of a flywhed
can be obtained without the necessity of installing one.
Reference t o the very valuable graphs included in the paper will
show that almost without exception overloads are of brief duration and
are followed by a peri during which motor input is small. I n certain
cases it may be better t o level out these peaks and hollows by electrical
means rather than by the mechanical means but it appears quite definite
that means are available for considerable improvement. The best
solution may be the judicious use of both methods.
R. JORCENSON said that he had switched from steam drive to
electric drive. He had noted t the horsepowers used in different
installations varied from 50 t o and thought that some standard for
ves was required. F erly an engineer could not instal a
motor when the peak load was 300 H.P., but now it was
possible t o d o such a thing. Fifty per cent. overloads for given periods
were quite common now, and this reduced considerably the horsepower
required for a knife drive. H e asked if a squirrel cage motor had any
advantage over a slip ring motor in a knife drive.
ITH mentioned the difficulty of controlling
course each knife set had its
own steam engine, with fly they were well belted.
the load came on the bottom knives, the control system t w k the load
through the knives without the assistance of the clutchman: as the load
came on the knife engine, the pressure rose in the steam chest and cut
off the winch on the carrier. TJntil the steam pressure dropped, the
carrier could not move.
it was difficult to p
e was a rapid fall off of loa
when the carrier motion stopped, and a rapi increase when the motor
restarted. I t was bettei to graduate the speed of the carrier motor
because this wouId eliminate the rapid rise of load on the knife motor.
Referring t o the choice of either a squirrel cage or slip ring motor,
MR. FORBES-SMITH[ said it wac tied up with the momentum of the
system, that is, the characteristics of each motor. The speed range
available for the use of kinetic energy is confined to approximately 9 per
cent. with the squirrel cage motor. With a slip ring motor f i ~ t e dwith a
slip resistor, the characteristic curve rose more gently and a drop in
speed of 15-20 per cent. could be allowed without any danger of going
into the unstable position and stalling. Much more energy was stored
nit11 the slip ring mcmr than with the squirrel cage motor. The slip
rinrr motor had a much more exible characteristic. and so could br
L

adapted to many conditions. T h e squirrel cage motor was simple. but

had too many limitations d e n used with a flywheel.

LlR. NICkLJN lemarked that in opinionII,these two papers

wete the best electrical papers presented to the society. The set up a t
Tully, formerly, had been good, with buzzers and lights used t o help the
wilrch man: howevel, he could nut respond quickly enough to load
variations. The big motors now used on the knife drives would prob-
ably not ha\ e been installed if the information contained in these papers
had been available foul years ago. He remarked that Mr. Yenton had
observed knife motols up tu only 250 H.P. overseaa. Apparentl) much
m~allersizeq could be used, although abroad they had a much more even
feed probabl) due to the use of feedel carriers. Whilst admitting the
advantage? of the slip ring motor, be would not like t o see the ordinary,
or high-sill, squirrel cage motor forgotten. 1
.All<. FOKKES-SELIT'I'EJ replied that the squirrel cage worked as
eEciently as the slip ring motor for automatic control, and gave very
fast arid mole critical control. If the characteristic curve of a rnotol
rose rapidly, as it does with the squirrel cage, then the best possible
protection was afforded. High-slip squirrel cage motors had a definite
application. However, when the motor slipped the energy was dissi-
pated in the rnotor itself. With the slip ring mottrr, that energy was
dissipated outside the rnotor. Enquiries for motols sbould include all
data on the particular application.
MR. SILOAN stated that Mourilyan Pvlill had an electrically con-
trtdled cariier. There was a slip resistor in the carrier motor and also
in tile Searby shredder drive. A t the end of the season, the carrier was
r u n automatically by equipment of their m11 design.

h l R . IIESSE said that there must be occasions when the contrc~ls

were in operation and No. 1 Mill was empty. I l e also wanted ro know
what the effect was when tramp iron came through.

hlK. SALSBURJ; explairled thc set u p a t Proserpine. The)- had

had steam on the top knives, and a motor on the bottom knives. During
the 1953 season a 3 5 0 L P . motor was coupled t o the top knives. and
a carrier speed control system incorporated with it. 'l'he practice was to
 old 15-20 seconds' feed in the hopper. From the curves in
mith's paper it was seen that the delay was only 1 /5th.
chute carrying m e second's feed would be quite safe. There
been cases when it took up t o 20 seconds to chop through a heavy
. In the most severe conditions there was still plenty of cane in the
feed chute, and the mill would never run empty. With regard to tramp
iron, magnets were installed on the feed plate and 60-80 per cent. of the
tramp iron was collected. However, tramp iron had been a minor worry
over the last few years.
The CI-IRIRAfAN closed the discussion.
 UFACTURING SECT
Chairman: J. El. WEKSTER

rass Evaporator Tubes," by 'l". G .

This paprr was introduced bq- MR. WHALT,b:Y and MR. SMART.

MR. JOKGENSON remarked that tubes can fail in one mill and
not in anoher. The amount of scale which could accumulate, in a
calandria was alarming. He had found 14 t o 2 inches of sludge in the
calandria a t Racecourse. preventing beat transfer in that particular por-
tion. H e had also found in the calandria pan a series of minute cracks
in the tubes just below the tube plate. This may have been due to
annealing. or to noxious gases.
ANNING had made observations at Pleystowe while the
effets were being pulled down, and be confirmed MI. Whalley9s re-
marks. The deposits on the tubes had all been on the side of the incom-
ing steam. Analyses had shown that a deposit in the head box of the
effets and the deposit on the tubes were similar, and consisted princi-
pally of iron oxide and organic materials, probably with cane wax and
decomposed sugar products. These deposits should be avoided by the
prevention of entrainment. Ammonia was a recognized cause of
corrosion.
JLSON said that the purity of the copper and zinc in the
tubes was very important. ire refined copper, with a purity of
was used during the war, when electroIytic copper of p u ~ i t y99.94, was
not available. The small extra amount of impurities made a difference
to the properties of the tubes produced from such copper. A small
amount of arsenic in the copper gave beneficial effects, It was common
ce to put zinc slabs in boilers to stop electrolysis, and he wondered
insertion of zinc into evaporators would hclp to prevent the
corrosion of steel and copper.
aid that during the training of metallurgists at
ifficult to get samples of the corros
if the samples of corroded tubes
assed on to the University.
R. CLAYTON inforrnrd Professor Shaw that he mould provide
versity with a set of corroded tubes from Babinda. The corrosion
in these tubes was shown by the complete penetration of the tubes, just
below the upper tube p1 . De-zincification did not appear t o be
involved. T b e tubes were 40 brass and fully anneded before installs-,
tion.
 FESSOK SflAll remarked that iiniverbity co-operation was
not one-sided. Mr. S m a ~ hat!
t spoken of the difliculty in getting metal-
raphs. T h e llniversity had the staff and equipme~ltt o
d, if anyone were interested, metall~~rgical examinations
and pl.latographp could be done.
AIR. GEOR(;E haid that any tubes manufactured in the last seven
years would almost certainly have been made a t Port Kembla, and
would be completely annealed. We asked if there had been a fall in the
loss of effet tubcs duriug the last ten years. If the losses had fallen, it
would indic~tethat heat treatnlcnt had been effrctive.
klR. \.I.XRLJ,E:J7 haid that thc tubes mentioned in the paper had
been fully annealed. A batch of 70-30 tubes received at Kalanlia in
1951-52 had been exa~ninedand foulid to be not annealed a t all.

h%K.(;EORCJ< remarked that it wab necessary to s i i ~ u l a t cheat

treated tubcs wheli ordeli~rg,if fully annealed tubes were requited. He
strongly recommended full treatment for the whde length of the tube.
The expense was extra. and was not included in the basic cost.
AIR. hlETC.4LI"E agreed that tubes should be fully annealed.
Poiver houses use condensers with tubes of aluminium brass, fully
annealed. MR. JOR.GI<NSEN asked if the tubes had failed in 311
vessels or in one particular vessel.
RIR. \VHALI&J replied that the eft'ect was evident in all vessels
except No. 1, in vrhich the stcarn header was of such a construction as
to carry the scale away from the calandria. No. 4 vessel was the worst
affected. H e had read an English article which had blamed non-
condensible gases and insufficient venting as being the causr of corro-
sion similar to that noted at Babinda. Brass of 60-40 composition had
been found to bc pl;tticularly susceptible. Ammonia was the main
Trouble maker, but c a ~ b o ndioxidc also caused corrosion.
MR. ('I,AYrIDN \aid that it was apparent that incontlenaible gas<.:
could collrct as a laler under the uppcr tube sheet. At Babinda. the
actual point of removal of the gases was seve~alinches below the tub('
plate. Replying to MR. JENKIKS, he said that it na, t l u e that stet=!
tubes mere being used in Hawaii instead of 1-ra~st~ibes, for pan
calandrias.
The C'EiAIRMAN closed the discussion, s ~ ~ ~ g e i lthat
i n g an attic]?
on venting ctluld be a subjpct for a Newslettel.

er: ""RemovingScales a Incrustations," by L. D.

MR. DKINXEN brie outlined his paper. comparing, mechanical

with chemical cleaning, m ds. When mechanical clcaning had been
practised at Bingera 23 men were used to clean the evaporators, a t a
cost of 60 per weekend. Aftzr the adoption (Ichemical cleaning only
12 men were now needed. for 23-34 hours.
 MR. JORGENSEN said that the deposition of scale was just
another mystery of the sugar industry. Some heaters were cleaned once
a year. and other heaters once a week, all in the same mill. Racecourse
had an immediate deposit of scale throughout the heaters, and also a
deposh in No. 1 vessel, which gradually disappeared, A special tube
uas put into the effets, to compare the depositions of scale.
MR. CLARKE asked for an explan-ition 'the increase oi SiO,
scale as set out in Table li of the paper. h1R. DKTUNEN replied char
he had found a significant increase in the amount of P206in the fourth
vessel, possibly asstx-iated with pH. The amount increased as the $1
dropped. There were large variations in Si02 in the t h i ~ dvessel, but
these were not explained.
DR. KERR said that the Sugai Research Institute was interested
in the mysteries of scale formation. Perhaps scale was caused by
chemical chanpes taking place in the iuice during clarification, or by the
concentration changes in the effets. Delayed depobition c;f calcium and
phosphorus was a major factor in causing scale. T h e phosphate dis-
appeared as one went down the line. Aconitic acid was found later in
the effets. as calcium bccdme atailable for nrecirhation as aconitate.
There was some relationship between p H and Samples of scale
collected should not be contaminated with cleansing chemicals. There
were two methods for remt~vingscale. acidic and dasic. Acid removal
could be done by using aluminoierric, which was an inhibited acid. T h e
basic treatment was done by using caustic soda.
MR. DIT'S remarked that 143and tpmnelature were important
factors in the chemical treatment of scales. He mentioned the A.S.M.E.
publication on inhibited acid cleaning. MR. GIRSON said that the
cleaning of e4ets during the slack season had been a verxrlong job until
chemical methods were tried. Now it takes 2 days to do, when the season
is finished. MR. WHALLEY considered thar the treatment must vary
with the scale. After chemical treatment, manual cleaning was light and
nor so severe. Pan cleaning was done by boiling with caustic soda. He
asked if the low temperature of the filtration process caused wax deposi-
tion in the filtets. A high temperature was used at Kalamia, and there
was very little deposition.
R. DRlNNEN replied that the mud temperature of 130"-146"F.
was low, and that this would be raised in the coming season.

cients in the Evaporation of

In presenting the paper, MR. JENKINS told Conference t h a t he

had merely acted in an advisory capacity. while most of the' actual work
had been done by Mr. Saranin. He related how a long-tube evaporator
had been designed and installed, an action stimulated by Dr. Crawford's
paper a t he previous conference. He referred to an illustration by
Badger and McCabe in which the overall coefficient of beat transfer
was plotted against riccosity, and pointed out that any increase in heat
transfer was essentially due to a dr in v i s c ~ s i t the
~ ; illlmati
based on vater, which is rather di ent from a sugar solution.
TENKINS then briefly outlined the paper, and mentioned that all
kraphs shown were drawn in terms of the overall coefficient, although
the liquid film coefficient was by far the most important to be considered.
H e did not considcr the Kirkbride formula t o be applkable in the case
of the circular evaporator used, since the coefficients for this type
would not be the same as for an evaporator with tubes.
T h e Chairman thanked hlR. JENKINS for presenting the paper
and declared it open for discussion.
Discussion:
1IR. hlcCRAC1ilX thought that the paper was ver! interesting
from the designer's point of view. IIe relnarlred upon the fact that the
ef'fet tubes used a v e r s a s mere much smaller (1g dia.) and asked if
there was a n optimum size of tube from c o r d e r a t i o n s oE viscosity of
the material being heated.
AIR. S U A S J N replied that th: dirnensim, c ~ fthe t~lbeswould
definitely infuence heat transfer. He referred to some investigations 1))-
Badger in this connection. and said that the greatet the ratio betmen
tube length and diameter, the greatel mould be the heat transferred:
further work was being done t o study the effect of tube dimensions on
the coefficient of heat transfer.
hlR. RlcC'liACIiEN said he n a s more interested in the effect o l
tube diameter on viscosity than on heat transfer. MR. TEXKINS
agreed that the use of a small diametrr tube allowed a greatel heating
surface t o be installed in a pot, but he pointed out that small tubes
greztly increased the resistance t o flow: the use of small tubes would
also affect heat transfer, the cxtcnt of which war yct unknown.
hlR. CEHNE asked whether the factor 1.93 in equation 4, was
an index or a constant.
In reply, MR. J E N K I N S said that it was an index, and added that
a similar equation could be derived for a tube evaporator but that it
would have different indices. AIR. BEHNE then expressed the opinion
that the index would be a functicn c.f A t ; he referred to the fundamentai
equation for heat transference (equation 1) and stressed that if the
coefficient of heat transfer wrre also a l"uncrion of temperature, then the
qcantity of heat transferred mould be all the greater. Ile also suggest-
ed that experiments might be conducted t o determine the limits of pres-
sure evaporation.
MR. WRIGHT considered that the use of small tubes would be
attended by difficulties in manual cleaning. H e said that very small
tubes could not be cleaned merhanicalls., and chrmical clcaning wc>dd
therefore be necessary. He also expreswd the opinion that the use of
very small tubes was a waste of time.
MR. BTTLLOCKexplained that a decrease in tub? diameter causes
a larger than proportionate increase in the resistance to flm-. Further.
he stated that due t o an increase in viscosity. the velocity of flour
decreased along with the quantity of heat transferred; he said that this
p!ololem could be overcome by using forced flow, when for the same
alea in the calandria, a much higher heat transfer would be obtained;
this would require extra mechanical energy which would ultimately
pass into the effets as heat, and so assist in evaporation.
hlR VEN'CON commented upon the proposal to use small tubes
in forced circulation evaporators of the Swenson type: he said that sev-
eral reports on the subject had indicated that the rase of forced circul?-
tion it1 ccmnection with long tubes did not provide higher ioeflicients of
e v a p o ~ation principally because the loss due to h y d r o ~ t a ~
hcsd
i v, a.,
much higher in th:: long tubes, and the liquid-film advantage due t o
circdation was lost.
MR. STITRR'T mentioned backward feed, and asked whether an)-
definite conclusion could be drawn from the figures presented. R e
considered that Fig. 4 was a good argument in favour of backward feed,
since the increase in IT was much more pronounced in the case of a
low- brix aolution than it was for one of high brix: in this way, better
work might be expected from the effets.
R. WNALLEY drew attention to the fact that the quantity of
a long-tube evaporator would be reduced by the layer of condensate an
the lower part of the tubes, and that the tendency t o healing would be
reduced b y virtue of the high velocity through the tubes.
AIR. t W \ D E N agreed that hydrostatic head would affect capacity
because the temperature difference between solution and steam would
thus be lowered; however. lie considered that such ~vouldnot be the
case when forced circulation was used.
Referring t o the build-up of condensate in long-tube evaporatols,
hI1-L JENKINS felt that this typr of evaporator was very prcme t o
develor) this defect. which lesulted in increased resistance to heat flotk
a t the bottom of the tubes; he suggested therefore, that there was prob-
ably an optirnurn length fm such tubes. Commenting upon the subject
of cleaning small tubes. he slated that probably mechanical cleaners
could be evolved for tubes down t o one inch in diameter, but that chem-
ical metl~odscould always be used. IIe then returned to the snl~ject
of backward or modified feeding. and emphasised that it would be neces-
sar! to study detailed balances oker the M hole 5ystem before any definite
advantai~ecould be i e ~ c a l e d . He was inclined to think that forced
circulation in the last put would be more attractive than backward feed-
ing. He described how in chernical industly forced cilcr~lationwas used
as a last resort because high power costs detracted from its utility.
However, in the sugar industry such a proposition might be warranted
because power is relativelv cheap and hence Is not such a consideration
a> in chemical industr). He ap~eed,tcw. that pressure maporation was
clllite a awssibility. and proceeded to relate how the beet-sugar industry
had used thc principle for man) yeals, slatting with 30 p.s.i.g. in the first
pot and falling to atmospheric presslrrr in the rhird pot. hfost of the
vapour u a q used for juice heating. We warned against the possible
dannaee to cane sugar liquors, if heated a t 30 13.s.i.g. but added that the
nuxiern design of pots with pcwi circulation greatly lessened the danger
of sucrose destruction.
 MR. ANDERSON related how a new vacuum pump installed at
Pleystowe mill had given an increase in vacuum of lain., but no
increase in evaporation rates; he thought that the explanation was that
the increase in temperature difference was nullified by the decrease in
heat transfer caused by an increase in viscosity. He also considered
that such a condition was a strong argument in favour ol the use of
forced circulation in the last pot when higher overall evaporation would
be obtained from the set.
The CHAIRMAN expressed the hope that nothing would prevent
further research being carried out on this important project.

R. SHANN, in presenting his paper, emphasised the difficulties

associated with obtaining a constant juice velocity, and with the deter-
mination of actual scale-thickness. He drew attention t o errors in Table
1 as printed, pointing out that in the last column the values 328,350 and
289 referred respectively to series numbers 2. S and 6.

R. JENKINS congratulated Mr. Shann on his paper, and agreed

that it was quite a problem t o determine the conductivi
regarded Wilson's method as very useful. DR. K E R R r
Shann had collected individual samples of scale from the
of juice heaters, and that these had been analysed; a full report on this
was now ready for distribution. He mentioned in this connection that as
ture rises the protein content of the scale increases, due no
coagulation effected by heat.
 onday, 26th April, 1974
Afternoon Session

Chairman: F. B. M'KIGII'I'
aper: "Cane Carriers in Relation to ourly Crushing Rates,"

MR. GIBSON desclibed the former s>stem a t Bingera rriili in

which 30 per cent. of lie can? supply had t o be unloaded from C'rOVern-
melit waomns and said that it was difficult t o feed the carrier in this
L L

way. H e told Conference that a gantry crane was being installed a t the
n d l to cater for this and went on to e x ~ l a i nhow chains would be fitted
in the railway trucks t o facilitate the 'removal the cane therefrom
witlwut raking. T h e cane worrld then be placed on a feed table for
delivery to t h e main carrier.
'The CIMZRhlAX tllankecl hlr. Gibson for enlarging upon his
overseas experiences.
Discusion:
h R 170t'NG supported hlr. Gibson cvrlcernin~the value o f cross
call iels. H e spoke of the benefits accruinp from the use of floating top-
rollerb. but pomted out thei: dependence on good carrier-feeding for
satisfactoly performance. ITe stressed that a n even level of cane in t h e
c a r ~ i e rmade f o ~ease in feeding the mills. We pointed out however, that
sanlplinrr tended t o prevent the use of c ~ o s s - c a r ~ i eand~ s . that it wcsuld be
di?icul~t o asses< the tonnage cruslled in an eight honr shift when there
w a i W I I ~ I I Lcane
~ (in t h f~r d - t a b l e s and in the carriers. fir leferred
also t o the exprnbe of storing the cane, and of inbbccluently t l ansferr ing
it t o the carrier.
RII1. I-JIIJ ES thoupht that tlic overseds ~ r a c t i c eof employing a
200 TIP. motol to drive the bottom knives was a great help in milling,
H e felt th,rt the use of a feedel-table would deliver a xe15 tangled mash
to the main c a r r i e ~ .a fact which xroiilcl make for better knifing conditionq.
hIR. \TL2DDF,T,T, rclafcd that Crnlral IIIercidita in Puerto Rico
had crushed 223 long tons per h m r . and had not experienced any diffi-
culty with individual sampling; moreover, there was no need t o leaxc
paps in the carriers.
ZIR.JORGENSEN described feeder-carriers which he had seen in
Cuba in 1939: he said that i t was rerg ens) to obtain hiph cl ushing rates
in t h r t manner. H e thought that the feeder-carrier idea could quite
easil! be int~odrrced i n ~ oQrxensland mills, and that it would he o f
advantage to h a r e two feeder-carrier<--one on each sick of the main
carrier. Rrparding individual saml)ling, he thclught that it was high
time C)uxniland departed frnm t h i s method. H e felt that there must
be other ways of attacking the prohlrtn, a t the. same time maintainin?,
h i ~ hcrushing rates.
 MR. GTBSON pointed out that quite a few mills in Puerto Rico
had two feeder-carriers. MR. CLAYTON stated that he would not
like to see the present sampling system stand in the way of progress.
He considered that mills would have to regard three or four trucks as
the unit, rather than one truck a s at present; lie suggested that single
trucks should be ignored anyway.
MR. BKIGGS agreed that sampling from single trucks was futile,
and he proceeded t o relate the system a t Tully mill; with the aid of the
cane inspectors, no single truck samples arrived a t the mill. R e said
that in the case of two truck rakes, the juice sample was taken a t the
No. 1 mill, but for rakes greater than two trucks, the juice sample was
pumped over to the laboratory.
Referring to feeder-carriers MR. BEHNE described the one a t
Pioneer mill, the installation of which had been forced upon them by
the nature of the milI yard. H e said that with the aid of their feeder-
carrier, Pioneer could be kept going quite easily from one rake of
railway trucks.
AIR. JORGEXSES wished t o avoid the taking of samples from
No. 1 mill, and suggested taking say four sticlrs from the sample truck
and crushing them in a sample mill. q R . JENKINS drew attention to
in selecting four average sticks. He poin
nsland were being run t o suit the cane S
system, but he felt that mills should be able t o handle their plant in
such a way as t o obtain the best possible performance and yet not
detract from the principle of encouraging h3gh quality cane.
MR. HAVES stated that people overseas could not believe that
Queensland mills were able to work at high crushing rates with the
present system of sampling.

per: "Some Thoughts on

R. VENTON, in presenting his paper, said that he had been
very impressed with the ease of operation of the milling trains he had
seen in the West Indies. H e considered that an essential difference
between such trains and ours was in the length of the intermediate
carrier, which in the st Indies was invariably short. FIe cited those
Johnstone as resembling overseas trains. MR.
stressed that there was much as regards milling yet to be
, and he advocated further research to clarify the position.
CHAIRMAN said that r. Venton had presented his observa-
tions very fully, and he invited discussion of the paper.

CLAYTON expr sed the opinion that the system of milling

sland should not e condemned because it would not have
persisted for so long, had it been bad. He realised that the plants
as a t Present set up had given every satisfaction for many years, but
conditions were changing and the system of operating must also alter.
58
Jle drew attention t o the facl that we were facing conditions xmw, for
which milling trains overseas were built. He said that he had been
asked to speak on behalf of . WQRTON who wished him t o draw
attention t o the milling plant ginally installed in Babinda and South
Jtrhnsrone mills. Although these had incorporated some feat
Queensland design they still were basically of the overseas style
given very g o d performance uvcr the years. 1t was MR. H 0
contentim that, if these milling trains had been studied without preju-
dice. the Queensland practices would not have survived so long.
MR. JENKINS wondered whethcr conditions bad really changed
so signi6cantly in the last thirty years. 1x1 reply,
recalled the trend in intermediate carriers. He menti
intermediate carriers had travelled a t 4-5 ft. per minute between mills
on forty-five feet centres, whereas t mills were crushing a t consider-
ably higher fibre ratings, and no d they benefit from long
intermediate carriers. H e mentioned t binda mill had a transit
time of only seveh minutes, and it was now doubtful whether milling
work vrrcsuld suffer through reduction in the lengths of the intermediate
carriers. Referring to the design of m r mills he felt that the preponder-
ancc of Badila in the early days was a big factor. Fibr-e ratings had
changed considerably. and were now more in line with world standards.
MR. CLARKE related his experiences in Hawaii a few years ago.
l i e said that the design of mills there had been quite different from that
here; the centres of the 1 m e r roilers were closer together, and this factor
had resulted in better work. He spoke of the movement of brasses, and
explained how necessary it was to ensure that such movement was not
accompanied by tilting. He then drew attention to the fact, that because
the bottom rollers in Queensland were so far apart--thus necessitating
a very wide trash plate---much more horsepower was consumed here in
drawing bagasse across the turn-plate than was the case overseas. We
decried the use of puhers. impressing upon members that they were
used onl? in Queensland; and hr considered that our feed-hoppers had
been mntiIdtd to suit our bottom pushers. XIe stated that the slope o f
Hawaiian hoppers was much less than that in Queensland, and he felt
that there was lebs likelihood of cane pitching over the to? roller under
the Hawaiian set-u~i. Referring t o the use of hydraulics. MR. CLARKE
maintained that because hydl-aulically loaded bearings always allowed
thd same pressure to be applied to the cane. the extraction should not
alter with lift of the brasses. ITe expressed interest in the design of
mills which Dr. Crawford had seen during his overseas tour.
I n I c f e ~ring t o the h ~ g hcrushing lates over seas, 1 I R . MAY 1's ex-
pressed the opinion that overseas mills cmld not maintain their high
figures if they had t o treat the types of bagasse fed to our mills; he
thought that hot and heaty macelation ruled out high cruslring rates.
I-fe mentioned the subject of crush in^ pressures, and ~ctnarkcdthat hc
bad see11 pressures of 40 tons per foot in Elawali, whereas in Queensland
the figwe Ia! between 60 and 80 tons per foot. MR. HL417ESthen
cornpared mills ill the Caribhean area with Pleystowe mill on the basis
aE rate of crushing intons per hour pc1 square fool of escsibcd roller
surface per minute; the 01-erseas mill. v w e running a t 32-46 feet per
minute. The respective figures were:- -
Fwome 0.66 tons per hour
hlonymusk 0.62 ,, ,, ,,
Brechin Castle 0.618 ,, ,, ,,
Pley stowe 0.64 ,, ,, V
'I'hus Pleystowe was second in order of merit and MR. I-I-IYT1:S
therefore considered that although working with a saturated fecd,
ueensland mills were giving performances which were quite compar-
able with overseas results. I-Ie felt that at the high rates in quc>tion
maceration tended t o reduce feeding properties and so reduce extraction.
h1R. JBNKINS rematked that as lhdila was a soft, short-fibred
cane--and hence a bad-feeding cane-there was little sense in stewing
it in a maceration bath, thus making it a worse-feeding cane. Ile
pointed out that only long-fibred cane could stand hot maceration. He
recalled the days when the soft Kadila would permit a reduction in
rriaccration so that attention could be focussed on improving crushing
rate. I-Ie expressed the opinion that factors such as hot maceration and
the use of pushers werc mainly responsible for the polishing of rollers.
In reply t o MR. JORCrl':NSEN, MR. F'ENTON said that he did
not know what type of motor was used on mill drives overseas, but he
informed him that variation in speed was achieved by changing the
frequency of supply within the range from 58 to 63 cycles per second.
&JR. GIBSON related that Gray's Inn in Jamaica used a 350 H.P.
induction motor (711 the last mill. Referring to the use of pushers, he
mentioned that a t the International Conference in Barbaclos, South
African delegates had considered them necessal y in their industry.
AIR. 13EIHNlt' was of the opinion that Queensland practice was not
as bad as was at first apparent. EIe remarked upon the question of
fibre determination and pointed out that the method of determination
overseas was by weighing-not by the indirect method as in Queensland.
Referring t o the criticisms levelled a t thr Queensland method by
overseas authorities. he said that they considered that the boiling of
fibre for one hour actually led to solution of portion of the fibre, thus
giving a low result. H e recalled that the figures for Mulgrave on the
average showed that the actual fibrc obtained by weighing could br
up t o two units highcr than the figure from thr direct method. H e then
commented upon the fibre ratings as given in M r . Venton's paper. and
said that the figures for Inkerman compared very favourably with the
lowest of the overseas figures. However, he drew attention to the fact
that New Yarmouth, while having a rating of 78.4 lb. fibre per hour,
neverthclcss had an extraction or only 93.9 per cent. 1-Ie also quoted
some figures for rnills in L,ouisiana, where for four -%-inch rnills the
extraction was of the order of 91 per cent.; the fibrc content of the cane
in this case was very high. MR. BEHNE concluded his remarks by
expressing the opinion that if we had six or eight mills in a row, then
we too would be able t o operate at very high rates.
 MR. HESSE supported rhe view that high crushing rate was tied
up with mlaceration, and he expressed the hope that investigations into
the relationship might take place during the 1954 crushing season. H e
asked Mr. Ventcm for some information as t o whether the floor of the
feeder cal-rier was above that of the main carrier.
In reply AIR. VENTON said that the head of the feeder carrier wa.
a few feet above the floor of the main i a r r i e ~ . The flow of cane twer the
head ol the feeder carrier was iegulated by a "kiclwr" set about 2ft. bin.
to 3ft. above the slats of the feeder earlier. I t consistrd of a s h ~ f t with
,
arms about loin. long. revolving a t 30 to 30 1.p.m.. the almq moving
against the direction o f travel oi the cane.
GIBSOIS had sren some kickers travelling the same way as
the cane, some the opposite way. Moreover, some had arms while others
had kn~ves.
RlR. &'LARICE ~ e f e r l e dto Table I and mentioned Oahu as one
Hawaiian mill that showed up rather poorly in such a table. H e won-
dered whether mills in Queensland worked rrnder conditions similar t o
those in Hawaii. hIR. VENTON pointed out that in the case of
TIawaiian mills, wet weather was often accompanied by clarific a t'ion
troubles. and the crushing rate then fell rather sharply.
AIR. NIGKLIN then discussed the matter of mill-drives and
stated that with all things conbidered, electric drives ccruld not compete
with steam engine drives: however, turbine drives were more successful
as a turbine gave all tllc advantages of the steam engine--and ar a
cheaper rate. He then went on to say that crushing rate must b e con-
sidered in conjunction with extraction, and pointed out that if the ex-.
traction is t o be maintained a t increased crushing rate. then some other
factor such as preparation or maceration must be altered to gain advant-
age.
MR. WHAI,I,EY explained that cane payment overseas was based
on d m x i n g recovery, whereas in Queensland it was based on a fixed
recovery. In order to maintain extraction a t high rates, overseas mills
had Ilad to make use of long milling trains. IIe expressed the opinion
~ h d textractions overseas were not goocl b p our standards. and asked
Mr. Ventm to give him a rough idea of the amount of expansion which
Central Vertientes w d d have to undertake in order to obtain an ex-
traction of 97 per cent. as a t Kalamia. I n regard to the polishing of
rollers, RIR. WHALLEW considered that the primary cause was macera-
tion rather than the action of pushers; he stressed that mills with pres-
sure feeders still had trcwble with polishing and had tu overcome this
by spotting the rollers. I l e then pave some details of the maceration
tests carried out a t Kalamia last year. 'The tests were done on fourth
mill bagasse; as far as possible the condition of the mills remained
unalteletl throughout the series. The maceration tests were carried out
on the laboratory scale, permitting a drainin time of 24 min.-as was
the cabe in the intermediate carrier--followed by squeezing in a hand
press to a desired moisture content. The variants included quantity
and temperature of maceration fluid, and time of draining; however,
in each series of rests all factors but one were kept constant. The
extractions so obtained were fairly comparable with those obtained in
the milI, and were uslrally 40-50 per cent. of the pol entering the fifth
mill. When temperature was the variable, the extraction increased 0.1
per cent. w e r the range 130"-160" F., but the increase in extraction rose
to 0.92 per cent. a t 190" F. The difference between the incrcascs of
extraction is rather significant, and is quite possibly due t o the extra
diffusion power of the maceration fluid a t the higher temperatules.
Increasing the quantity of maceration led t o an increase in extraction
t ~ 1.22
i units in the range 2-4 litres, and of 0.95 in the range 4-6 litres.
T h e effect of draining time was shown in a steep rise in extraction up
t o three minutes, but little advantage was obtained over a longer period.
MR. WIIAI,LEY then commented upon the fact that, when calculated
on a fibre-basis, the maceration was much less now than in the days
when BadiIa -was so popular. In regard to the present day high-fibre
canes, he reminded Conference that p01 extraction and moisture extrac-
tion were intimately connected, and that much intense mechanical work
had t o be done on the cane in order t o effect low moistvres and high
p01 extractions.
MR. VENTON told Mr. that Central Vertientes would
not contemplate an additional that they really had very little
cane-preparation; however, he thought that they might consider replac-
ing their two two-roll crushers with a single three-roll unit.

I n the absence of Dr. Crawford, this was presented by MR.

SEIANN who briefly outlined the aim of the paper.
i.scussion:
The CHAIRMAN stated that corroborate many of the
findings summarised in the paper. a t the ratios in the paper
agreed with those which !lad t o be used a t South Johnstone where
values of 1.6 t o 1.8 were adopted; he warned that excessive ratios would
lead to broken chutes. H e considered the paper a fund of information,
and asked for the experiences of others using pressure-feeders.
R. BRANDON described difficulties experienced with the chutes
pressure feeder a t Plane Creek. He said that while crushing
280,000 tons of cane, they had first adopted a ratio of 2.3 and had
suffered a broken chute; on opening up the chute, they had found the
bagasse caked hard and the bottom plate bent, with two inches worn
off the scraper plate. After replacing the chute, they had continued
crushing, only t o have the top plate crack after another hour's working.
hen the ratio was increased t o 2.4, they had sheared all the bolts on
the sides of the chute. Obviously the ratios were too high. H e felt that
there was a considerable amount of slip in mills, ancl gave as evidence
the fact that a top roller had worn down one inch in diameter. He
asserted that n o means were available to indicate a atate of high pressure
in the chute, and he maintained that the only thing t o do was to keep
the ratio down t o about 2 t o l, and to watch for excessive slip as evi-
denced by undue wear of the rollers. H e thought that the tendency tr.
slip was somewhat reduced by notching the rollers.
 MR. yOtiNG consideled that incestigations along these lines were
very valuable, but ~ e r ycostly in a mill as big as Plane Creek and he
therefore suggested the erection of a small pilot plant where such experi-
mentarion might be more conveniently made.
hIR. KEWNE expressed the opinion that there did nor seen1 t o bc
much fundamental difference between milling practices in Queensland
and those overseas. He pointed our that if we are to crush our cane
more speedily, then our peripheral speeds must be increased and the
deprec of preparation of oris cane somewhat reduced. He emphasised
that we shall have to dcvelop our own line of attack t o meet these prob-
lems. but that line of attack must be of least expense t o the industs?.
AIR. 1-OUNC; In st~essmgthe prime importance of these detailed
irrvestigations, cited the case a t Fairymeail where a pressure feeder
which originally cost f 2,000. mould cost f 6.(?UO-7,QOO todaj . Iie felt
that the high costs of equipment made sesealcfl extlernejy necessarv.
I n this regard, he mentioned how mills interested in diesel locomotives
genetall) i5ere content to t t y o ~ against
e the other and he assurad Con-
ference there were many pitfalls o f which to beware.
MR. McCRACKEN as a builder of these units. explessrd much
intelest in the outcome of such invcstigation.,. We leferred to the
trc ublc experienced a t Plane Creek regarding pressure feede~s,and said
that. as a t Plane Creek, the majority of pressure feeders in Queensland
are installed a t the final nlill. Ile stressed that these units mere d e s i p e d
t o deliver the bagasse t o t h r mill under moderate pressure and reason-
ably dry. h u t some mills expected too much from the unit, and that they
were continuall\ experirnentlng with mill settings in an endeavour to
implove on result5 which were already better than those for which the
in>tallaticn nab wiginally dcsipced. He regarded the optimum setting
for thc fcccier a s being such that, if the setting any less, the supply
ot feed t o the feed roller would be insufficient; thi\ optmum setttng was
thought to be 2 to 1, hut now in the light of fnrthes experience a figule
of 1h--1.8 s e e m d to be the col rect choice. IIe then expressed the mew
that the pressule-feeder was the answer to hipher crushing rates in
Queensland, mhere hot and heal!: maceration was the accepted thing.
H e indicated the readinesh of his film to co-operate in any resealch into
he perfol mance of pressurr feedel S .
AIR. CLAYTON thought that Dr. Cra-wford and his colleague.;
should be congratulated on the work around which this paper centred.
He then referred to tlie various speculation5 concerning the reasons
why rreskure chutcs had burst. and voiced the opinion that the correct
place to relieve any build-up of pressure was a t the top roller of the
mill. W? disaglced with the idea of floating the top roller of the pressure
feeder and emphasised that it was not easy to fit up a chute s o that it
wonld operate successlully with a floating top roller at the entrance to
the chr~te. This had been done at Babinda, but he pointed out t h a t it
had yet to be proved whether the installativn would operate successfully .
Eic then went on to say that he failed to see how a floating top roller a t
the pressure feeder c d d do anything else but try t o force more feed
into the chute; he felt that the floating top roller should be on the mill
so as to ensure that excessive pressures could not develop.
 . HAYL)EN agreed with Mr. Clayton in this matter, but con-
hat the trouble could be prevented if the ratio for the feed and
s was related t o that for the pressure feeder.
LLF:U said that Iialarnia ran a t the lowest ratio in
.S and less. Re stated that the pressure plate was not
very close t o the mill, a factor which tended t o act as a safety outlet.
He r ~ u tthat when the ratio was high, the material leavillg the
chute -vcFasrather dry and welled up over the top roller, resembling the
action of portidge; this was corrected by making the setting of the
prmssure feeder smaller than that of the feed roller, and he felt that this
supported the remarks of both Dr. Crawford and Mr. McCracken. He
indicated that although there had been an increase in fibre-rate of about
40 per cent. a t KaIamia last year, the speed of the No. 5 mill engine
Lvas reduced by G per cent. with safety- a11 because of the installation
of a pressure feeder a t that mill. H e lulther related that over the years
1949 to 1952, the fibre rating had incrcaseti some 22 per cent. while the
~noiiturein final bagasse had actually fallc~lfrom 45.5 per cent. to 44.6
pel crnl : be cciniitlered that even with the rise in fibre-rate, the use of
a pressure-feeder had allowed the efiriency of maceration to be main-
tained. He rccallcd the claim by t h C.S.R.
~ C'o~npanythat under euual
condition> bcfore and nftcr its installation. prrssure-feeder was re-
sponsible for a reduction in moistwe of 1- units. He quoted thc escrihed
volume ller cent. bagasse v c h m e for the various mills of a train as
calc~llateclby the method outlined by Dr. Kcrr and then listc'd the

sc. vol. per cent.

111
2 13 1
3 150
4 148
5 78
Thesc figures, he said, were all for a particular week. and he iniisted that
they showed quite cl earl^ how the use of a pressure feeder helped to
eliminate slip.
MR. HESSE rcalised that the secret o f good milling lay in the
relationship bctween feed and discharge openings, but hc raised the
question of wing an individual drive on the pressure feeder. suggesting
that clectrically-controlled equipment might be ~iscG
R c f e r r i n ~to Figure 3, MR. SHANN said that the only reason
Dr. Crawford had stated that hydraulic loading of the feeder roller
would prevent any build-up of excess presssure was because the pressure
forci11~the bagasse against the end of the chute was dependent upon
roller pressure and upon the coefficient of friction between loller surface
and bagasse. With regard t o the question as to whether the coefficient
of friction varied with plcssule, Dr. Clawford said that if \\,ere
only a limited pressure available on the pressure feeder, and if the
coefficient of friction were constant, then the force pushing bagasse into
the chute would be limited, as too would be the pressure inside the chute
itself.
In closing the discussion, the CHAT AN suggested th
Hayden had said-the crux of the matter lay in the reIationshi
the ratio for the feeder and the mill.
61
 Tuesday, 27th April, 1974
onling Session

Chairman: J. H. WEBSTER
urvey of Crude Waxes an

Presenting the paper, DR. LARIBERTON showed samples of the

waxes mentioned. He said that small vatiations in the waxes could be
very important and this work was carried out to obtain some knowledge
of the variations which could wccl before the production of wax was
initiated on a larce scale. He stressed the need of a uniform product.
v 1
I h e two obvious variations in the samples of wax were colout and
hardness but it did not necessarily mean that a gcwd wax could not be
p~cparedf r ~ l ma soft or coloured wax. IIe said that some of the waxes
werc excellent, particularly those from Rfossman, blourilyan and
Pioneer.
Higher mclting p i n t s of some waxes indicated big differerices
in constitution although it was dificult to say what caused these diifer-
ences. Location of the mill. conditions in the factory and varieties of
cane could be contributing factorq.
I h r ' n g the coming beawn. sarnplcz of niud wculd be taken at
fortnightly intertals to investigate the L ariation in the wax from specific
. I,AMBEKTON thought it would be possible t o control
quality by limiting the amount of wax removed during the distillation.

8 3
l fie Chailman said that once more. it was apparent that the
C.S.I.K.O. had carried ciut a considerable amount of work for the sugar
industry and that a further step had been talren in the production of a
suitable wax.
R e p l ~ing to the Chairman. R. VENTON said that although he
had little knowledge of the details of the waxes produced overseas. last
>ear he mas a b k to see factories in Barbados and Cuba recovering wax
from fi!ter mud. I t was yuhe a commercial undertaking and two Eactol-
ies operated plants in conjunction with the Johnson Wax Co. IIr ,aid
that he had nu information regarding their refining operations but each
factory maintained a highly trained technical stafl which supervised the
process and conducted rescarch. They appear to have no trouble with
markets for their wax.
In Barbados, he bad visited a small factory ximilar to the wax
factory at Wambour although it was better designed. The wax content
of the rnixds was 18 per cent. Dr. iggins was very active in the inveeti-
gation of the properties of the wax and he was considering the use cf
fuse1 oil in the refining process. A small was plant had been given t o
the Institute of Tropical Agriculture by the London Aluminium CO.
.V ought that a pilot plant on the lines of the plant used
he as Co. should be constructed in Queensland.

R. HAYDEN said that the society and the industry were

indebted t o the C.S.I.R.O. for this work. The extracted rcsidue from the
muds could be inoculated with bacteria to enhance its value as a ferti-
lizer and the soft fatty materials removed from the crude wax might
be useful as a stockfood.

hIR. c;. JTAL>L)ELL said that some of thr variation in the

samples of wax could be due to the isdated samples of mud. He offered
rhe co-operation of South Johnstone mill in collecting samples t h r o ~ g h o u t
the season. He thought that contiguous mills mould show close similarity
in the waxes if the mud samples were ~ a k e nover an extended period.
TJe was cjf'the opinion that Queensland rnills would have installed wax
plants if the extensive expansion plan had not demanded priority. With
the campletion of thcse programmes, it was possible that such plants
would be installed.
DR. LAMBEXTON said that he had not claimed that the samples
were typical of the mill as other samples might prodilcc different waxeb.
He thought that it would be an advantage to extract wax from the wet
mud a s charige~occnrred during the drying proces?.
TOMR. WJIALLET, DR. L,lhIBERTON leplied that he did not
know if there was a minimum content of ash reqni~edfor a commercial
wax. Crude wax could be bleached but it was essential to remove the
ash lrom a vacuum refined wax as ketonisation set in, caused by the
catalytic action of the ash. Replying t o MR. MacGIBBOn', DR. LL2M-
KER'TON said that the fatty acids could he used for soap-making but
this source might not be economic. He had found three per cent. sterol
in the first distillate from crude waxes and this might have sorrle value.

MR. CI,4I7TON extended his congratulations to Dr. Lamberton

on the paper. He was of the opinion that wide variations would be
found between the waxes from different mills. The muds from C.S.R.
mills appeared to have high wax content which might be due t o milling
procedure. H e had noticed that Dr. 1,amberton had adhered t o vacuum
~efiningwhile Professor iggins preferred sdvent refining

Replying to Mr. Clayton, DR. LAMKER'I'ON agreed that the

yields of wax from C.S.R. mills were good. He said that C.S.I.R.O. had
used solvent refining with acetone under pressure but the final wax from
this process could not be modified. They were endeavouring t o deter-
mine the differences between cane wax and Carnanba or 1.C. waxes so
that cane wax could be modified t o give a similar product. Sugar cane
wax was similar t o Esparto wax from England which was always used
as a wax extender. Carnauba and ?.G. waxes were much more complex
than cane wax.
 MR. CLAYTON asked for details of the pilot plant used by
C.S.I.R.O. for extracting wax from the dried mud so that n d l s could
supply samples of their waxes to C.S.I.R.O. However, DR. LAM-
BERTON said that i t would be better to extract the wax from wet mud
and asked Mr. Ventrpn to give some details of the Johnscm process.
MR. HAYDEN commented on a suggestion to extract wax from
the primarj mud before filtration. Experiments he had conducted had
shown no loss of sugal when mud was boiled with solvent for two
hours. hlR. VENTON ieplied that the possibility of extracting wax
from the prirna~ymud was excellent as the Johnson Wax Co. had
trouble with bagacillo in their plants and this would not occur with
primary mud. Also the mud could be disposed of straight from the
filter rather than in a slurry.
I n reply to the CHAIIIhllAN, DR. LAMBERTON said that two
mills only could be handled during each season mith samples on a fort-
nightly basis. In reply t o 14R.CLAYTON, he said that it was prefer-
able t o reccivc the mud rather than crude wax from the mills as the
value of the work could be reduced by the non uniformity of procedures
in the extraction. At this juncture there were offers of co operation
from Mossman, Millaquin, Qunaba and Bingera mills. DR. LRhlKER-
TON explained that a t the C.S.T.R.O. the mud mas extrac~cdin a
Soxhlet apparatus and the mud n a s ground up several times during the
extraction t o prevent channelling. MR. HAYDEN suggested that the
pilot plant of the Bureau at Bundaberg he used to extract wax from
muds, the wax being then forwarded to C.S.I.R.O. DR. IAAIL1BERTON
said that the wax would be useful.
At the request of the Chairman, hTR. CLAYTON moved and MR.
STAI~NTONseconded "'That the Queensland Society of Sugar Cane
Technologists again expresses thanks t o the C.S.I.R.
the work of research into sugar cane wax and reaffirms its offer of iull
co-operation in the project." TThc motion was carried unanimously.
MR. WADDKLT, said that Dr. Larnberton probably realised that
if and when wax recovery was commenced on a plant scale, the crude
wax would most likely be sent t o a central refining plant and the wax
samples ivould be characteristic of a district.
DR. KERR said that Mr. VITacldell's idea was good. The initial
moves to establish wax production should be made by the wax industry.
Mr. Hayderr's suggestion of using primary mud was excellent
hazard was introduced with the use d the solvent in the mills.
Conclucling the discussion, the CHAIRMAN said that the financial
success of cane wax recovery depended on the work of the C.S.I.R.O.
The establishment of wax extraction plants had t o come in the near
future.

etter Clarification with Rotary

h presenting his paper, R. ITAYUEN said chat it demonstrated
a simple means of increasing subsider capacity, and he suggested that
the filtrates from the rotary filters could best be used as maceration
fluids.
67
 MR. I-IESSJ'I' pointed out that after treatment with juice. mud
might be more difficult to treat on a Iotary filter. He considered it a
disadvantage that Mr. Foster's parer had not been read first, as lie felt
that Mr. Foster had shown very clearly that the water used a t the filters
was only a small proportion of that entering the juice as dilution; hence
he thought that there would be little effect on evaporator performance.
and that it was doubtful whether any saving would be made in adopting
the niethod outlined.
When RqR. C:L!IRKE sought information about the mixer, the
CHrllKhlhN suggested that Mr. Hayden put a line diagram on the
board, AIR. HAYDEN briefly explained the system, indicating that the
temperature of the overflow florn the secondary subsider was about
205" F. MR. CLARKE then asked whether the juice from the second-
ary subsides was good enough to be taken into process a t the weekend.
I n reply, MR. IIAYDEN stated that the practice was to allow the mud
to build up as much as possible when the lot was discarded; he felt that
it was not good t o carry light juices over the weekend.
MR. FOSTER enquired whether secondary subsidation resulted in
tllinner or thickef rnuds, and pointed out that it was difficult to obtain
good retention on a rotary filter if the mud was thin. MR. HAYDEN
replied that there was a slight difference in the density of primary and
of secondary mud, but he thought that with adequate subsides capacity,
the density would be much the same in both cases. 1Ie did not know
how this difference would affect the oneration of rotarv filters. but he
declared that the primary muds at ~ & t hEton c o d d &ver be handled
directly at the present filter press station; secondary mud did filter well
and this assisted in giving a better sucrose extraction.
hlR. CLATiKE asked wliether fine bagasse was added in the pro-
cess, and was told that generally the only material used was phosphoric
acid.
hlR. G. M'ADDI<I,L complimented hZr. Hayden on his payer and
then described how years ago he had found secondary sldxders most
insa at is factory. However, at the present rate of 100 tons per hour. he
had beefforced to use a 5.000 gallon subsider t o treat rotary filtrates
which it had been the custom to return to the mixed juice tank. H e
related how he had discussed the matter with RIr. Alorison cf Hamble-
don and had learnt that the C.S.R. Company ccmsidered secondary sub-
sidation unwarranted, particularly as the resulting muds were too thin
and invariably slimy. I-Ience, South Johnstone had pcme back to t h e
practice of returning such filtrates to the mixed juice tank, as it was felt
that a capacity in secondaty subsiders of at least 10,000 gallons n a \
needed now that the crushing rate was from 100 to 130 ton5 per hour.
I t ~ v a spointed nut by hIK. HITC;FII'S that the r n i x i n ~of primary
nlud with t l ~ i l dmill juice must result in the civerAcw f r o m the secondary
subsider having a higher brix than the latter: he w.-cmlered hat effect
l d on the extraction at No. 2 mill.
this ~ v r ~ u have
 hlR. II:\l-DES reported that in 1149 when Xnrth Eton had re-
~urnecito the old system for one 11-eek, it had been found that there was
no change in extraction. Referring t o Mr. Waddell's comments, he
said that he had never found the mud slimy after secondary subsidation,
and he felt that a t a crushing rate crE 100 tons per hour a subsider of
20,000 gallons would be required.
MR. JENSEN requested information concerning the p H oh mud
from the secondary subsider, and told Mr. Hayden that lsis cmly had a
5,000 gaI1cm subsider for a rate uf 90 tons per hour.
MR. STAITNTON did not agree with many of the opinions ex-
pressed. He snppo~tedhlr. Foster concerning the effect of m u d density
on the efficiency of rotary filtration, and expressed the view that there
were too many factors affecting filter operation for MI. Mayclen to say
that ~nillsshould use dilution more effectively in so far as mill. extrac-
tion was concerned; he considered that Mr. Hayden would have been
on the right lines had he advocated this practice in connection with filter
presses.
hlR. Hrl'J17DEN told conference that unless labour costs made it
absolutely essential. he had no intention of using a rotary filter due to
its high capital and maintenance cosis: moreover. he pointed out that
water used on rotary filters was of little value as dilution if the filtrates
were returned t o the rnixcd juice tank. Ilc then stressed that the only>
way t o reduce a pol in cake from say 0.9 t o 0.3 was to use a considerable
quantity of wash water. He considered that the key t o the problem was
the use of third mill juice, Iimed before admixture with primary mud;
he felt that this gave better results than mixing before liming.
The GI-IAIRILIAN then congratulated Mr. Hayden on a paper
which had promoted such valuable discussion.

a p e : "Rotary Filter peration," by D.

I n introducing his paper, MR. FOSTER referred to the need for

improvement in the operation of rotary filters, and stressed that full
use must be made of the total area available for filtration.

Mli. JENKINS complimented hlr. Foster both on the work done

and on the paper presented. IXe expressed the opinion that many rotary
filtrrs today nere operating only as well when he conducted bib investi-
gations in 1938; a t that time, it was impossible to obtain enough bagacillo
to run the filters a t high speeds. ITe had obtained good results a t ~ I W
speeds but bad results at high speeds, and he attributed this 1 0 the
paucity of the bagacillo supply. He said that he entirely supported hlr.
Foster on the question of the effect of dilution water on evaporaror
performance. He drew attention t o several effects which result in
channelling and plenty of diluted filtrate, including a thin cake, in-
sufficient bagacillo and improperly attached sprays. He stressed how
blocked screens cause unevenness of cake, and indicated how this too
aggravates the position, ICeferring to the need for a low p01 loss in cake,
INS indicated the desirability of close supervision so that
a good cake could be continuously formed and a high retention thereby
obtained.
MR. WHALLET considered that the iequisite o f high mud solid*
formed a good argument in iavour of multi-tray subsiders. Stressing
the importance of drum speed on filter performance, he thought that slow
speeds were t o be preferred to high speeds. He did not think that
retention was everything, although he did appreciate that where subside1
capacity was important, a low retention did put a heavy strain on the
subsider plant. Regarding low retention, MR. WHALLAEYnondered
whether the trouble was associated with re-solution of some solids but
felt that even this would not be of great inlpoltance when capacity mas
ample. He expressed the opinion that a woven screen was not suitable
for filter work because it had a greater area of opening than a p n c h e d
screen, and because the bigger cake picked up would reduce the pro-
portionate washing time. He then drew attention to the fact that
bagacillo is comparatively dry, and that it mould therefore absorb mixed
juice on being mixed into the mud; he suggested that it would be better
t o wet the bagacillo with water prior to such admixture.
MR. FOSTER could not give any information on re-solution, but
agreed that it would form an interesting research project. Regarding
the use of woven screen, he told conference that such a screen had
become badly clogged up in a laboratory test and he bad found finer
gauze of greater use. Referring to the brix of various solutions, MR.
E'OSTE;R quoted 15 fol clarified juice and 13-14 for filtrates, falling
to 10 after a few hundred gallons had been filtered; the pol in cake
ranged from 1.5 t o 2. I n commenting on Rlr. Whalley's suggestion to
met the bagacillo before use, he said that this would be merely equiva-
lent to diluting the filtrate.
hIR. CLARKE sounded a note of warning regarding values of
brix, and claimed that when filtrates become cloudg, the brix rises
alarmingly while pal varies but little or not at all.
RIR. FOSTER told Mr. Clarke that in these tests, brix had been
determined by means of the refractometer, and the filtrate purity was
always of the order of 80 per cent. hlR. CIAyTON agreed that mud
density affected filter performance, and considered that this feature was
the most outstanding contribution of the paper. H e expressed surprise
a t Mr. Foster's describing as unreliable the method used for the deter-
mination of mud solids. He recalled that the method had been used in
both test and routine work for some pears and had been regarded as
satisfactory.
AIR. FOSTER said he could not agree with Rh. Clayton, and stated
that in his experience duplicates could differ by as much as 20 per cent.
$411. DAL'IES said he could not agree with Mr. Foster on the effect
of mud solids on retention. He quoted an instance where with a heavy
mud a retention of only 40 was obtained; the mud, however, was slimy.
due possibly t o its being held too long.
70
 MR. CLAYTON thought that it could be dangerous to attach too
much importance to heavy rnuds. He considered it unwise t o hold muds
in the subsider for the purpose of producing a heavy material, and he
recalled a number of occasions on which the holding of muds for this
purpose had been attended by considerable loss of sucrose through
deterioration; hence he maintained that notire should be taken of filtra
purity. Concerning re-solution. MR. CLAYTON thought that this was
of little importance when compared with thermal destruction of sucrose.
AIR. FOS'I'FR appreciated these remarks, but maintained that in
the tests conducted the drop in purity over a period as long as five hours
was negligible. ILIIi. DKINNEN said that the latest report on the
subject was Technical R e p a t No. 17 of the Sugar Research Institute,
but he felt that Afr. Foster's work would not have been necessary had
mills applied the findings outlined in Bureau of Sugar Experiment Sta-
tions Technical Communication No. 2, 1940; he felt that too many had
forgotten the nature of the work carried out in the past. He had with
advantage followed the recommendations outlined by Mr. Jenkins, and
be strongly supported the lattrr's contention regarding supervision.
The CHAIRMAN regarded retention as all-important, and con-
sidered that when this was satisfactory, goal performance resulted in
the rest of the factory. He then asked Mr. Driimen to describe the
manner in which recirculation was prevented a t Bingera mill.
h l R . DRINNEN began by stating that the method for evaluating
retention was quite good and that the results obtained were sufficiently
accurate; he claimed that he could improve retention from about 40 t o
about 80. using as a basis of comparison the results obtained with the
standard method of determination. We then proceeded to outline the
process of filtrate subsidation as practised at Bingera; the filtrates were
limed and heated and subsequently settled in a filtrate subsider. ILIR.
DRTNNEN did not agree with the idea of sending filtrates back to the
mud mixer.
ATR. WHALLEY spoke of decomposition in subsiders, and said
that he failed to see how recirculation of solids in the filter caused
decomposition; he contended that recirculation assisted in re-solution.
hlR. CLR17TON pointed out that recirculation must entail sugars as
well as mud solids.
MR. FOSTER emphasised that, in the case of thin muds, there
nould be more filtrate in recirculation. and hence a possibility of greater
decomposition. AIR. HESSE17 considered that the drop in iiltlate
purity was largely due to thermal decomposition which caused the
filtrate to acquire acidic properties, and thus resulted in re-solution of
precipitate. I l e felt that they Rere largelj guessing in saying that
filtrates should be settled separately, as decomposition \vent on in the
secondary as well as in the primary subsidation. I-Ic considered that
there was a good flcm ulating agent in cane juice which ~ o u l dbe bene-
ficial in resubsidation and therefore suggested reclarification by mixing
u-ith primary juice rather than by using bentomite as in overseas practice.
He concluded with the suggestion that the same improvement would
p~obahlybe obtained if subsider capacity were acicquatr.
 MR. CAMEROhT complimented Mr. Foster on his contribution
to filtratim. He described conditions at Isis mill, and statcd that tlie
output from a filter of 300 sq. ft. was 6,500 lb. per hr. and that the p01
lost in cake was of the same order as mentioned in the paper; he felt
that the unit could d o better work.
MR. FOSTER referred t o Table 1'11 in the paper, and said that he
did not regard the figures shown as being hard and fast; they had b e n
obtained only during the month of November, when there was only a
fair amount of wax in the filter muds.
MR. CAMERON told Confe~encethat during the early part of the
season when muds were heavy, only one filter was requiled at Tsis. but
when the muds became thin--as later in the seascm--both units wele
required.
MR. STAUNTON expressed the opinion that success in iiltiation
lay in good retention.

In presenting his pa EBSTER told the Confel mce that

he realised there were distributing juice, but tha, the one
aper had worked quite satisfactorily under the con-

MR. CAMERON complimented r. Webster and said that he

considered that the paper had introduced a very sound idea.
 'uesday, 27th April, 19T4
Afternoon Session

MANUFACTURING SECT1

ulk Loading of Sugar,"

MR. CLA1'l'ON, in presexzting his paper, referred l)articularly to

the q u f i t i o n of cleaning the rubber belts of raw sugar. He considered
t h a t scraping of belts caused. wear and actually forced sugar into the
if scrapers are used, ho-wever: that portion in contact with the
belt should also be of pure rubber. I k also descl-ibcd a rlew h-method of
cleaning developed in Hawaii wherein a h e mist. of water was sprayed
onto the tail cnd of the belt; he pointed out that the use of too much
water resulted. in adhesion. Hc then displayed a series of belt wipers
which were used in America, and invited subsequent inspection by the
delegates.
Discussion:
In opening the discussion, the CHAIRhlAhr expressed the opinion
that the paper was very opportune as it -cvould be only a matter of time
before ~ n e n ~ b e would
ls be faced with the problem of handling sugar in
bulk. AIR. TORR then described the belt come>-ass used by Tate and
Lyle. The wipers in this case were rotating nylon brushes which were
easily removed for cleaning. The system was described in a recent
i.sue of the journal "Mechanical Ilandling".
>R. CLALT"N then read thc article t o the delegates, and added
that although there a e r e many steel conveyors in both England and
I7.S.,J.. most of the conveyors in use were made of rubber. T h e
C'ITAIKhlAN then asked for some information concelning the sugar
belt conveyor used at 'Tully, and was told that trouble had been ex-
perienced in removing sugar from the conveyor.
I I R . CLAYTON suggested that a large chute should he constr uctetl
to take the spillage aria! from the head end of the belt, but he felt
that each installation ~vonlclhave to be considered separately. h l K .
GIARIKE expressed the opinion t h a ~all members were intelesteci in
the conveying of sugar on belts ncw that bulk handling was coming in.
and hp asked vrhether anything had been done t o clean the belt by
vibration. MR. G'L4YTOIC' remarked that v i b ~ a t b n~ ~ o u be l d useful
in facilitating the removal of sugar. RIR. B'AILZCI;: wondered whether
i t n er? p o 4 b l e to cause all the sugar to fall off the belt within a. definite
alea: he 1)ointed out thr ic~~ultina eaw in collecting t h e sugar.
In answer. hlR. I. L. CL jYTOll' consideled that it was not poss-
ible to lemove all of the suual, but that the big majoritj- of it would be
cnllected: the amount ~ernaininpon the belt wo~uld certainly not be
sufficient to calise a build-up on the jdlet- system.
 RIR. VC7ALLrlCE then briefly described the dryer installation a t
Tully, arid related how scraping with steel brushes had been tried to
prevent return of sugar on the belt. 'The process had proved ineffect-
ive, and Tully were still looking for a method for cleaning the top side
of belt conveyors satisfactorily.
MR. SALSBURY expressed interest in the fact that an increase in
efficiency was t o be gained by the use of rubber belt conveyors. He
referred particularly to the second item in Table I, and said that when
the method of conveying was by screw, the horsepower requircd, instead
of being of the order of the figures shown, was something like 20.
The CHAIKhlAN observed that the problem of handling and
conveying was practically continuous from the time the cane reached the
mill.

sel Constructionss'

MR. BERNARD briefly outlined the main points in his paper.

M R . McCRAGICEN thought this was a very interesting paper, and

then recalled those by Mr. Coates dealing with the subject of welding,
in which the welding code of Queensland had been followed and the
results obtained had been very satisfactory.
ETCALFE mentioned that the billets produced a t New-
castle were flame-gouged t o remove imperfections; the billets were then
heated and rolled. M R . JORGENSEN considered that after each paper
of this class, members became more confused as the number of tech-
niques was still being added to. H e remarked that there was scarcely
sufficient oxygen in the RiIackay district for plate cutting let alone flame-
gouging. MR. JQRGENSEN then asked Mr. Metcalfe the reason for
flame-gouging steel billets; he said that in his experience, steel billets
were first cast, and were then sent directly t o the rolling mill. He felt
that MR. hllETCALFE might be thinking of billets for special jobs, as
the billets when rolled were placed in soaking pits and did not cool down
sufficiently for a welder to d o any work on them.
R. RERNARD did not agree with the opinions expressed but
reminded mem'bers that they were all proceeding along the roadway of
investigation. He co sidered that it was more expensive t o cut two
straight edges than t o ame-gouge the edges for welding, especially when
the plate was of $in. metal; in addition, he voiced the, opinion that all
plate over +in. should be flame-gouged in preparation for butt-welding.
H e stressed the advantage of flame-gouging in that a smooth contour
was thereby produced, whereas with flame-cutting, it was very easy to
leave a pocket in the weld. H e declared that it did not take vely long
for an operator t o become accustomed t o the technique of flame-gouging.
MR. STEVEN found the various opinions on flame-gouging very
interesting. Nevertheless, he still had t o comply with the Queensland
achinery Act, and t o insist that for pressure vessels, the metal had to
74
be examined before welding was completed. Hc indicated that the tests
mentioned by hIR. BERNARD were those conducted by the N..
Machinery Department, and he felt that when the results of such tests
were made known to the Queensland Department, then improvements
might be expected here. He also stressed that before any pressure
vessel could be constructed, its design had t o be submitted t o the
authorities for approval.
1111. JORGENSEK thought that the time was coming when all
r7late would be cut by the uxy -acetylene flame before welding. I n reply,
RfR. EER%RRL> pointed out that with flame-gouging, no further ma-
chine~y v, ,is required. MR. GAL1,AGITER asked what effect flame-
gouging nould habe r m stainless steel, and drew attention to the fact
that it was general practice nowadays t o normalise stainless steel after
welding.
MR. BERNARD said that hc could not answer this question, as
he had not seen either flame-gouging or flame-cutting done on stainless
steel; howevel, he did not foresee any difficulty. Ile considered that
normalising would be necessary.
MR. JORGENSEN asked if it was possible t o gouge out stainless
steel, and MR. MF:'IqC'ALFE pointed out that carbon was removed from
stainless steel during the welding process. He stressed that stainless
steel cannot be worked in the same manner as can mild steel.

In presenting his paver, &R.DOTIS referred t o the wide field of

applicald'lity of arc welding, and described the process as a slrilled
operation.
iwussion:
MR. JORGIENSEN agreed that supervision of all welding work
was very necessary, and related how Racecourse had found f~ actures in
new pipes which wete artribut:tble t o lack of supervision during rnanu-
facture. He considered that better welding was obtained from niill
welders than from engineering firms.
MR. THOlCIAS cornmended the author on his paper, and then
pointed out that with the larger electrodes now being made, more rnetaI
could now he laid down in one run---an impottant consideration on a
cost basis. RIR. DODS then referred to colunin 6, Table T of his papel,
and tcrld Conference that this case involved a gap of 3/16in., under
which condition a large electrode was necessary. He stressed that small
gaps were necessary to keep costs down.
ES, RIK. !>ODS explained that tests 1-4 were
e in the V-position, while 6 had a 3/L6in. gap. He
mentioned that the amperages quoted were not intended 10 bear any
relatinnship to the examples shown. H e disagreed with Mr. Coates
aa mills used much higher amperages than those quoted in the

'rhe CHAIRMAN thanked Mr. Dods f o ~an interesting paper, and

closed the discussion.
 eclnesday, 28th April, 19$4
orning Session

ANUFACTCJKING SECTTON
Chairman: F'. R. R7RIGlIT

Paper: "The Milling of Cane," by 13.

D R .I<l<Rli $aid that he ~ n x rro k clr!im to :in? en~ineel-incqualifi-

cations, and in p r c w ~ t i ~ thc
i g pnpc.1 llc clid f ~ o mthe I ien-point nf an
&server and critlc of Qricenblanil ~ u i l lpiLicticcs
iscussion:
MR. JIWKINS said that Dr. Reri'i summar?. of the vnlious
ccmclition> in the mills n a s timely. I-Ir agrecci that the ciegrer o f prc-
paration of canc could be overdone. From tests carried out b~ the
S u p 1 Bureau at South Johnhtone and a t 13ingera. a graph ol pound*
fibre per unit eaclibcd volume against p~cparationhad been prepared. a.;
illi~stlated below:-

Culve 1 ~epresentedresults obtained a t South Johnstone, culve 3 flom

Bingera. For curve l the preparation was by knivez on soft lrmr fibred
canes and fur curve 2 by Searby shredder on higher f i b ~ e dcanes.
Enough tests had been done to conclude that, for soft canes the prepara-
tion could become too fine, whilst with higher f i b ~ ecanes, the maximum
of the curve, if there was one, was far beyond that which could be
obtained. With the advent of higher fibred canea. the tlend througliout
Queensland was towards the results obtained in the Kingera test. f i e
agreed with Dr. Kerr's remarks on maceration and it was interesting
t o learn that the Sugar Research Institute intended tn continue Khain-
nvsky's work on milllng and maceration.
 1\11:. CLI'L'I'ON thanked Dr. ICerr for placing his theories before
Coi~~elence.iHe then relerred to hlr. Jrnkins' remarks on recirculation.
A11 mills used a cornm~rndmaceration svstem. and whilst recirculatio~l
incleased the body of liquid. Sugar Bureau experiments had not shown
an) o ~ e r a l lgain. hlr. LZehne had formcrly supported a multiple conl-
pound maceration 5 ) <tern, but his conviction as to its merit was steadily
undermined. hlR. G1A5"TON considered that if t h e was cnough "
r?l:iceration to satulate the bagasse blanket, the11 it did not matter how
it was applied, but if there was not enough maceration, then the bagasse
c-o~rldnot be v-ettcd uniformly in any case.

hJR. BnlXNE corisidered that it did not- matter if maceration was

not applied evenly. H e referred to a maceration system used by kdax-
nell. which had apparently not given an) g i n . He explained that the
rc.ults of his work on multiple compound macc~rationsystems had bee11
W conflicting that the work had lapsed. He thought that varieties of
c m e had an important bearing on this work.

DR. KEKR said therc v::.:ls a lot ;xi h l ~ Clayton's

. remarks on t h r
recirclhrion of juice. Analyses of juices esprcssed by the last mill in
one f a c t o ~ yhad given the figures 1.5 pol for prcssule feeder juice, 2.5
p 1 for feed roll juice and 3.5 pol fol the delivery roller juice. 7'11i.~
indicated that tlrr mixing of maceration fluid with the free juicc in thc
bagasse had been very inef-ficient.
fill<. JORGENSEN co~isidcred that milling work in Queensland
had not deteriorated verv much because mills were now crushing thrce
times as much cane as the) did 30 years ago. The depreciation was due
to maceration dropping frorn 30 t o 20. However. the installation CA'
larger effrts n as rnalting higher n~acerationpossible. Cane preparation
had imploved over the years. 1alpelv due t o the introduction of the
Srarby shredder. I-niform preparation was prefe~ahleto finer prepara-
tion. and the Searb> shredder fulfilled this aim. Prepa~ationplayed a
biq palt irr the ratio of mill settings, cbpecially with the first mill. This
ratio had to be of the order of 2.5 t o 1. With bad preparation it was
~ossibleto use a ratio of 1.6 t o 1 for the same x o r k by the mill with the
same cxxt~action. With respect t o roller grooving, 3 grooves per 2 inches
had been standard, but now the tendency was toward coarser grooving.
Big grooves were more advantageous on the first mill rollers, and gave
rise t o less trouble 15ith pinions. Yeas:, ago peripheral speeds were
22 feet pel minute, but now the speeds were up to 3 0 feet per minute,
and over, Cor 70 tons per hour crushing rate. There was more slip with
faster speeds and larger openings. Fol those mills without pressure
fceder,. after the first mill approximately the same work ratio was used:
howevrl. pressure feedrrs altered this situation.

AIR. GIBSON stated that conditions were as much t o blame as

engineers for the deterioration of milling work. Most mills faced the
problem of getting the crop of cane through the mills in a limited time,
the ernphasis being on crushing rate rather than extraction. Bingera
mill would aim a t increased rates, maintaining the highest extraction
possible. Referring t o Table II he said that 1953 records gave a lower
fibre for Hundaberg than for the central districts.
MR. KENNT said that the results of tests calried out on the S o . 4
mill and pressure feeder a t hfossman had been conflicting. I t appenrtd
that certain varieties would not absorb maceration fluid. He thought it
might become neces5arY t o find suitable maceiations for cliffe~es~t
varieties of cane.
hlR. WEILALLEY agreed with Dr. Kerr that the distribution of
maceration over the bagasse blanket was important. This was illustrated
b y the cush cush returned t o the milling train: this fell in a line along
the bagasse blanket and, in the following mill, the extraction a t thc
corresponding position was inferior. Rrcirculation evened the figures
out somewhat. He mould prefer to see thc bagasse saturated with
weaker juice, rather than have the maceration boot full, and maceration
applied. Cross grooving connecting juice grooves might be effective in
reducing the squirting problem. Comparing the performances of Pioneer
and Kalamia mills, Pioneer, which had the finer preparation also had
the higher extraction figure. t had been found that a gain of five per
~ mill gave 0.5 per cent. gain in overall extrac-
cent. extraction in t h first
tion. This indicated that it was necessary to get the highest pos.;ibl~
extraction from the first mill. A plot, over five years, of first mill
extraction against fibre rate gave a straight line graph. Fibre in cane
in North Queensland has been increasing in recent years, with a conse-
yuent drop in extraction. Also maceration per cent. fibre was now an
important figure.
DR. RERR thanked &fr. Whallcy for the information given. He
then quoted extraction figures forwarded by 11s. Crawford for the
individual mills a t Central Jaronu mill, Cuba, which has a six mill train.
crushing 280 short tons per hour.
ion per cent. of p01
tering each mill
2 roll crusher 62.7
No. l 26.0
No. 2 16.4
ATo. 3 27.6
No. 4 18.3
No. 5 3;.3
No. 6 45.6
95.2
MR. BEHNE maintained that there was no need to go to any
great trouble with the distribution of maceration. It was difficult to
make comparisons as many mills did not get correct figures for analyses.
Referring t o extractions, it was necessary t o obtain the maximum ex-
traction from each mill of the train. Tests with various degrees of
maceration had led to the conclusion that the more intenic the macera-
tion. the lower was the extraction a t the following mill.
 MR. HA1-Ti.S qsked if Dr. Kerr had any information on the relative
strengths of juice cell walls of Badila cane and the harder varieties
now grown. DR. KERR answered in the negative. MR. W R I C H T
stated that his experience bad been that in his mill the use of stearn in
maceration baths had to be abandoned. After big grooving had been
confined to the feed roller. and rhe teeth of the return nlate had been
hardened, no more trouble I d been experienced.
The CETAIRMAN closed the ctiscus4on.

'This paper n-as presented by I I R . JENKINS. He said that this

investigation had been palt of the Sugar 'I'echnologj- work at the Tni-
\-ersit).. MR. BITTJI,OCKhad done some of the work on the small rnill
a t the ITnivcrsit!. Conditions were slightly different from those found
in a large mill, as the pressure was applied only for a sholt time.
Preliminary results were given. showing definite trends. He understood
that the work would be continued at the Sugar Research Institute.

MR. B t l L O C T i presented some notes to bring the paper further

up t o date. Stand-over cane had becn used in the tests. It had been
fibrated six days after harvesting, and used 24 hours after fibrating.
There was a variation between the tops and bottoms of sticks, and
between sticks. At a pressure of 13,000 p.q.i., the extraction was 85 per
cent. I t had been exnecred that extraction would increase with nressure.
Experiments indicated that there appeared to be an optimum pressure
of 4,000 p.s.i. An increase of pressure did not increase extraction, and
unnecessary work was done. To determine its ultimate density, bagasse
had been washed, dried. and placed in a high pressure cylinder. A wide
xzriation had been found. Tlie apparent density increased rapidly with
increase of pressure. R value of 1.3 should be taken for the specific
gravity of bagasse.
hIR. Y W X G said that the University should be given credit for
the work done. The Sugar Research Institute was very impressed, and
i'r was possible that the Institute would subsidise the work of the ITni-
versity along these lines. Work done some years ago by the C.S.R. had
sElown that high pressure did not express more juice, but that when
pressure was released and re-applied, more juice was obtained.
PROFESSOR SHAM" remarked that the release of pressure would
assist considerably in allowing jrlice and air to escape. Conditions ~-0u1d
then be comparable with those found in a milling train, with its four or
five ~ompressions. AIR. RKICrltn' said he would like t o see practical
tests done under the actual pressures of the rollers, which would the
actual pressures on the bagasse. In the mills, pressure was applied over
a large area.
MR. CLAYTON remarked that a mill test gave volume figures,
but it was necessary t o know pressure-volume relationships. He said
that the Techndngy Section of the Bureau was willing and ready ta
co-operate in ..11>' milling work to be done. This work n tjdd also give
inforn~ationon how good the C.C.S.formula was.
MR. BTKLOCli said that the maximum plessure in a 1nil1 was
If the settings weIe reduced by 10 per cent., then the
10,000 p.s.i.
pressure might increase b y 100 per cent. 7'he pressure increase was
sudden, and dead weight acc~imnlatorhmight not rrliexc t11c pie.,sure,
resulting in broken shafts. Jn forrhcoming rxpelitnerlt?, the coeficient
of friction between bagasse and roller, nould he dctciniinecl.

Paper: "Roller Rearillgs in Cane Crushing

Rlli. PIIIL presented his paper.
Discussion:
MR. VI'lXI(;l--IT' asked if there were an)- mills in the world using
roller bearings. A I R . 131111, ans~veredthat therc were some s ~ n a l liliiiis
in Germany and India. I-ic had ~ ~ r r ~ s e ~Oic
~ t epaper
tl with a t110~gbti t >
future applications in nliils. espcciallp t ~ roll
o ii!ills.
AIR. BI'I,I,OC'l< cc.inplin:entccl 1he a~rti:i>r. Howcl-er, 11e ciid not
tliink that t.he lines of stress, slirjnii in Figi.irib 1. \i.t:re quite correct.
MR. LOGAN said that the saving of pc;urer was a very s t . r o n ~roint
in favour of roller bearings. I l e thought that tile pressures reqrllreJ tia
extract juice from b a g a s x , aud ectinomic factors might favour the intro-
ducticm of two roller and four roller mills. These n-ould be suitable
lol- the use oi roller bearings.
hlIi. JORGI<XSEN, after congratulating the author, said t h : t ~
press:"e feeders could ~)roriclt: a n excellenl apj~lication f c r I-oIlcr
bearings. H e tl~eria&cd Ylr. I'iihl for infoririat~on on thc rcrncvd of
wlieels by the oil p r e s u r e systcrt~, blR. PIT-1L esj~laineiithc riie~hocl
t o hlr. Jurgensen.
h1Ii. h l c C K A G K E N admitted that roller bealinps had a big ad-
vantage over journal bearings. Hcwever, the preyent design of mill
cheeks made the use of rollet brarings alrr~oztimpoysible. Adapting the
existing mills for ~ o l l e r swould hc a11 expensive pioposition.

PIIOFESSOlI SHAW a&ed M r . hlcCracken if he was able to

g i \ e the comparative costs ol the old journal beaiings and the new
loller bearings. H e considered t h a t , with the lesser horsepower engine
necded, i)lus the iowel lubrication costs, roller bea~iilgsh,td the advant -
age.
hIR. hIcCRACI<EN enquired if the forty per cent. having in power
was due to the power absorbed by journal bearings. AIR. PIHI, re-
plied that bearing losses could be large. T h e power saving made poss-
ible by using roller bearings was not yet fully realised, b u t when man-
agement started t o consider alternative fuels t o bagasse then the use of
roller bearings would be appreciated. Similar economic aspects had
caused the I'ictorian Railways t o fit steam engines with roller bearings.
 MR. LOGAN pointed out that the triangular stress t4.r.e mill gave
a tremendous saving in power. 111 Queensland rnills the area taken up
131- the ti-ash plate did n o useful. work. 'I'his introduced the idea that
there may riot be any need to retain three roll mills, using- instead a
four roll mill with an intermediate pressure chute.
hlR. JENKlNS supported a i r . Pihl. IVhilst he had no (.)pinions
cm trasli plate friction, hc did not agree v.-it'n h l r . Logan's four roll mill.
I i R . 1-OliNG said that on the subject of rtdler bearings, speaking i'cjr
the foundries?the!- had not been oflercd; speaking for the mills, they had
ncjt been asked for; and sjreal;inp f o i - the research organisations. n o
work had hcen done.

I n prt:sentiiig his paper, the author quoted severid instance> i'rcm

m-er;;eas irlstallatiotls where the use of centralised iubricatior~ had
yielded excellerrt results; in particular? lie sncntionecl the use in trains
land in steel mills.

hell. BAMP'l'ON felt t h a t these systems could xveil be adopted in

sugar mills here. H e said that lie h a d seen several installations employing
the i-~-inciplein America, where the reliability was esceilcnt. 1-Ie told Cm--
ference that n single line \\:as used in those cases where the bearings
were iriaccessible. but that in any installation the maintenance was very
low. MR. B_"lnIPTON spulie highly of the attention given to lubrica-
:.ion by engirrecrs in Quccnslard. and d e c l a r d that when failure did
occur. the matter had to be fully investigated t o ascertain the cause.
hIR. I\lcCK;'rCliP:U rcfcrre~i1.0 the use c)f heavy lubricants in the
system, and cspresscd interest in the mechanical lubrication of mill
engines. We said that some trlanagcr? had raised objections to the use
of centralised lubrication for mills and gearing.

AIR. JORGENSEN was critical of ce~ltralisedlubrication systems,

and cc~nsicleredthat bearings still required attention. H e recalled that
111.. 1-ent.on had detailed the use of this principle overseas w11icl1 appar-
ently paid for itself in one year; Iiowever, he po;nted out that this did
not iriclrlde a saving in labour. He also expressed the view that by
grcasinp his moving parts, the engineer checked on his bearings quite
frequently. and could therefo're rcadily detect a high consumption of
lubricant.
AIR. BAhWrL'ON said that owlseas there was n o labour consumed
in greasing, and that b y using this system bearing failures had been
reduced by half.

T h e GIIAIRML4N in closing the discussion. expressed the view

that the use of centralised lubrication was a step in the right direction.
 Tuesday, 27th April, 1974
orning Session

AGRICULTURAL SECT1
Chairman : J . H. B lTZACO'r1'

by
ugar Cane I~~igation,"

The author, when introducing his paper, explained the basis on

which the costs were estimated. IIe said that the paper was prompted
uery received from the ide Bay area as to the economic limit of
water cost for cane irrigation. Investigation showed that for th?
Childers district this would be about 0 per million gallons.
iscussion:
MR. GIRSON quoted experiences on Bingera Plantation using
steam, diesel and electric power for irrigation. Some farmers adjacent
to the Plantation received a supply on an acreage basis at the rate of
27/- per watering which was probably much below the costs for indi-
vidual plants. He agreed generally with the maintenance costs, etc.,
quoted by the author but stated that, in the case of electric power,
irregularity of use might lead to high unit costs as electricity tariffs
were based on the quantity used in a certain period of time. So far as
replacing diesels with electric motors was concerned he felt that this
should be done when existing diesels teach the worn out stage.
MR. CHURCHWARD said that, from his own experience in the
Hundaberg district of replacing a diesel engine with an electric motor.
he agreed with the costs stated by the author.
AIJi. K I N G asked the reason for the increased price per horsepower
of the large motors. H e was advised by M R . NIGI<IJN that in thew
c a m the higher cost of control gear was a major consideration.
h3R. SOPER stated that the installed cost of a motor for an irriga-
tion plant in Mackay depended greatly upon the distance from the
main power lines. R4K. NICKLIN added that in some areas the supply
authority was willing to run a special service t o a pump.
hlR. NOL'RKE emphasised that in some cases sufficient water was
not submitted for crop requirements and therefore it could be e r r e
neouslp stated that watering costs were too high.
MR. HOR'TOX in a written discussion, drew attention to the fact
that all Regional Electricity Bosrds have stepped rates so that if the
first block cost 3d. 01 4d. per m i t the average cost per unit would be
lower. This fact might not bc realised by some people. He stated that
the fixed charges given In the paper might stand revision and suggested
that, in view of pumping experiences a t Home Hill and the Lockyer
\"alley, the fixed charges be made 15 and 124 per cent. for the diesel
and electric plants respectively instead of 13 and 12: per cent. as given
in the paper.
82
 He considered that, because of stepped rates, thr energy cost pel
unit mould be lower for the larger farms and, without going into details,
felt that this would sway the economic balance in favour of the motor
driven pump. I t could certainly be said that experience with farmers
who have used both forms of prime mover goes t o show that once they
have used electrically driven p u r x p they would not change back to
diesels.
MR. IVIGKLIN. in a brief conclusionl. said he welcomed MR.
HQRTON'S comments but lelt they might give the irn!?:::shn that a
cost of electricity lower than would actually be the case could be
expected. He considered that for any proposed installation the applic-
able tariff should be obtained and. with ltem 6 of the Table as a guide,
the annrral energy c a t calculated. Only in this way codd a fair com-
parison be made between the two alternatives. Taking the existing
Kurdekin tariff as an example it would appear that the average cost per
unit for the six cases considered in the paper, would valy from 4td.
when using the 15 hp.motor t o 3jd. for (he 90 h.p. motor.

over Cane in the Central District, 1951,"

The CIlAIRICIAiV thanked Mt. Story f o t his infoimative paper and
opened the rapet for tli5cussion.

XIR. KING said it was appalent from the paper just presented
that, apart from P.0.5.2878, and possibly Q.56. the Mackay district
canes are not suitable for standing over. With the present over pro-
duction of sugar it is pos4ble that farmers will be faced with the p ~ & -
[em of unhatrested cane. I n the cane p-owing districts from Mackay
nolth both farmerh and cutters l a ~ kexperience in the ha~lclling of
r
-i
standove~cane. Z here was need for a qood standover variety such as
P.0.J.2878 had ploved in the Bundaberg area. I n a district growing
one major variet) (Q.50) which does not standmm well there was
room for thought on the part of growers as t o the advisability of utilis-
ing a portion of the farm for the purpose of stnncling oxer cane.
h4R. 'GAk;l,Oli asked whetlitr the dead stalks referred t o in the
paper were due ta natural causes or due mainly to dry weather and
rats and in reply MR. S1'ORY pointed out that the dry sprinp experi-
enced brought cm red rot and rind disease.
ICE: enquired whether there wele any prospects ol new
ieties and wlietlier Pindnr had possibilities in this respect.
said that on red soil types Pindar mould suf'fcr
considerably during dry periods. We went on t o say that it w a i part
of the Bureau's policy to ?elect qtandol-er varieties wpxiallp To1 the
ISlindabrrp: and Isis area. It 1 ~ 2 pssible
s that after curative treatment
for ratoon qt~~ntinq diseaw 43.0.J.2878 mill make a good comeback as
a standover cane. MR. STORY remarked that one blwli of Pindar
in the Proscrpine mill area performed well as a standover block but this
was the only block in the area which did sc.. There was also a possi-
bility of severe mind damage in this variety.
 hfR. YOUKG related that in his experience he had never before
harvested standover cane yielding as high a c.c.s. as in 1951 and he
thought that the year selected was not a true average one to ixldicate
the performance of standover cane in this area. I n previous years the
C.C.S.has been lower though U.1135 did go as high as 13 C.C.S. In any
consideration of the practice of standing over 25 per cent. of the farm
thought must be given to the difficulty of harvesting twisted cane which
~naltestruck weights light and causes a grower to get behind in his
tonnage allotment. This tends to result in better class of plant and
ratoon crops being harvested late in the season which may also cause
lobs. He believed that the standing over of canc must he considered.
The Cl-IAIKhIAN said that ILIK. JrOtiNG had pointed out several
problems associated with the standing over of cane. However, with the
uncertainty that cane would be stood over in htackay the problem was
that a good staridover variety might not make a good 12 months crop
should it be nrcessary to harvesr it at that age.
MR. KNliS'I' said that on ?he Isis red soils Pindar suffered g e a t l y
during dry weather. In a 22 months old standover trial Pindar had
three to four dead sticks per stool. Q.50 had a heavy infestation c;f r??.
lot whilst Q.55, Vesta and Q.47 performed well.
AIR. ELLIOTT said that he supported the remarks made by ILIR.
YOlTNG. A crop of Q.50 which would have cost 30-,' per ton to harvest
wab compulsorily stood over in 1950 and by 1951 it was lodged and
tangled so badly it had t o be destroyed. H e thought that Q.50 had
little future as a standover cane.
MR. BOURRE said that he agreed with hIR. I\INTVST in that
neither Q.50 nor Pindar was suitable as a standover variety in the
Bundaberg area, and he was also in accord with previous remarks
regarding the permanept establishment of standover blocks as a farm
routine in case the time came when rnills would only take peak sugar.
hlR. PRTGE pointed out that the harvesting of standover cane
was diAicult particularly when varieties such as Q.50 or C.P.29 '116
were arrowed or badly lodged. P.O.J.2878 was generally a much
better proposition. H e also remarked that in previous J ears cutters
had not harvested on a quota basis but since this system was introduced
in 1953 i t was found that a man could cut his daily quota in reasonably
good standover, provided he worked hard.
RIR. STORY said that during the 195l harvest cutters were cheer-
ful in standover cL1ne for a while but soon became discontented. and
farmers had to provide assistance in order to pet the crop off. Some
standover cane was nlaclline harvested by specially constructed ma-
chines. I n the ILIackay area generally, and also in trials, P.O.T.2R78
performed most satisfactorily as a standover variety.
hIR. SOPER c-rnmentcd that he lounci the paper most interest in^..
With no farm peaks to control ~rodrlctionat present he thought that
the practice of standing over cane may be the solution but felt that it
v a s necessary to get back to thc farm peak system. He said that
present varieties were not economically successful as standover crops in
Mackay but in his opinion more than one season was necessary t o get
a true indication of the value of st:tnding over cane in the Alackay area.
RlR. GIBSOK remarked that there were good indications of the
standing over qualities of Vesta for the 1954 crop and asked MR. ICING
if he had any Imonledge of the value of this cane in the hlackay area.
MR. KING replied that the I3ureau was satisfied uith the capa-
bilities of 1esta in the Bundaberg area but this variety had yet to prove
itself in hlackay. Owing to differences in soil types, etc.. it was difficult
to prophesy the performance of Testa in blackay from what it had
done in Buntlaberg. However. 17esta performed well in the Northern
Rivers diht~ictwhich differrd widely froin the Bundaberg area and
therefore it was possible that the variety had a wide range and rniglrt
perform we11 in the Mackay area.
ILIR. BOURKE said that during the discussion reference had
been made to the machine hanesting o f standover cane and he asked
whether this cane had been topped and what was the tonnage yield of
the standover CP.W '1 16 mentioned as having c.c.s. values 11.5 to 10.9.
AIR. STORY in reply said that thr cane was topped by machinc
and was cut with a two row harvester. It was then rolled into long
lines and cut up into four feet lengths. C-ltimately the c.c.~.became too
low and the remainder o f the crop was destroyed. The tonnage yield of
the C.P.29/116 referred t o was 20 tons per acre trrmn on poor land.

'The C'HZIRhTAN suggested that both papels be read and that a

c-wnbineci discussion bc held. Ble pointed out that the paper, presented
tiiffrrrnt aspects of chemical weed control, one ~ e f ~ r r e to
c i local condi-
tions while the other was cm a broader scale for Queenbland surar fields
with mention of overseas results. I n the absence of &fr. Ovrrell, his
paper was presented by Mr. Nihill.

hlR. I3LATDON remarked that tocl little wdter used in application

01 PCP emulsion decreased the efliciencv of the snrar.
, . For instance he
l d found with an eight acre block that use of more water allowed
better coniroI with PC'P than was normallv obtained. and in a drv
season double the usual amount of water with the normal PCI' appli-
cation had regained cimtrol of weeds in a pineapple field. I n h ~ sex-
perience higher spraying pressures qave Letter results, e.g. 140 lb. p.\.i~
was superior to 80 lb. p.s.i. The higher spraying pressure plus extra
U ater g a w better penetration.

In reply t o a question MR. STORY informed MR. BLAYIION

that water a t the rate of 60 gallons per acre was used with a creosote
based contact spray on the Experiment Station in 1950, and that Pley-
stowe Mill used 109 gallons of water per mile on tramline spraying.
 hlR. RNI-ST mentioned that whele lush conditiono of growth
werr experienced Hingera used 150-200 gallons of water per mile as it
was found that where heavy foliage was prebent extra watet nab re-
quired for control.

hIR. PIIILLIPS said that the paper had clarified the pcpsitiorn
regarding the usage of weedicides in Mackay but he criticised the use
of terms which were general and which did not specify the percentage
of material used in the manufactured product. He went on t o say that
oil companies have been successful in producing better oil solvents,
and this has allowed the emulsiliabie l'C1' content t o be increased to
15 per cent., the same as overseas.
MR. DONE remarked that the present trend overseas was to
cliange from the use of 2.4-11 sodium salt to the amine and ester Eolms.
IIe compared the costs of the varioi~sforms of 2,4-D as available in
Australia and America, and felt that because of the price factor the
sodium salt of 22,-D will be used in Australia for some time. He said
that ChlIT is a soil sterilant useful for weed control. and its value in our
canefields wo;uld depecd on the difference in tolerance of weeds and
grasses that of cane. He also gave Conference some information
on the use of CADE in Hawaii.

RIR. WILSON pointed out that satisfactory results had been ob-
tained during wet weather using a combination spray containing various
materials at the following rates per acre:-sodium pentachlorphenate-
15 ib., E.F.30B oil-3 gallons, and water--100 gallons. This gave a
gcmd coverage at a cost of L4 per acre. H e felt that contact weedicides
may be uneconomic at present plices and said that it was a matter of
economics as to whether chemicals or mechanical cultivation should be
used; the former may be preferable only in wet weather.

hlR. KING haid that C h K r was not used commercially in Aus-

tralia. and that the Bureau had small amounts for experimental
w m k . He would advise caution with its use as 10 lb. per acre brought
a b w t soil sterilization. The Hawaiian applications were Itent down to
4 lb. per acre. He felt that safe usage of CILIIT would depend upon
what would happen after a few years of continued application since
Chl'ITbeing insoluble in water did not leach away and might therefore
build up a sterilising eflect. I t could be dangerous il used in an irriga-
tion channel as it niay be brought into the cane rou by the water.

find CART
AIR. PHII,I,IPS thought that the average grower x~~oulcl
dificnlt to formulate satisfactorily. This material wcluld set solid i f
left in the spray cqnipnient and considerable difficulty would then h e
encountered in removing it. Ile felt that ChIf' woirld not be a coni-
mercial proposition in Australia for many l r a l s .

The CHL21RAI.4N suggested that it would be necessary for field

esperinients on weedicides to continue. He also kaid that maieic
hgdrazide which was effective for grass control had albo been success-
fully used tn delay al~owingin sugar cane.
86
 hlli. 1Ol_lNG t h o u g l ~ ttliat certain aspects of v, cedrcides were very
coniu.ing to canegrowels since even the manufacturers, M ho make the
m a t e i r a l ~ apparently
, do not agree among themselves as there are man)
valying compositions and propiietary names. We would suggest t h a t
m hen the manufactu~crs11a\ e evuh ed and agreed on something satis-
factory the marketing of one standardised prcduct would be less con-
fusing to the caneprowex. IZe said tliat vatioua m eedicicies had been tried
but many growers obtained i n c o ~ d u s i v eresults on areas of mixed weeds
and piasses. Chemical weed control has pcrssibilities in the v a c k a y
alea. but up to the present manufacturers have not produced a satis-
f,Lcrclr! matcrial fox this d i ~ t l i in~ t general.
hfR. ROCND asked tion for n u t grass was
made immecliately after pl OHEY replied that the
application xvas made about ten days after the shooti appealed aboxe
p o u n d , when cane had gelmia-aated.
3IR. AlADlN quelied the necessity for a nctting agent with
2,;b-1) and RIK. NIHILL advised that i t was not absolutely necessary,
but it facilitated the dissolving of the material. MR. McBRY DE w-as
of the opinion that a wetting agent increased the efficiency of the spray
and considered the material containing a spreader t o h a r e greater
LLIi1ity.
hIM. 'TAYLOK inquired whether soil sterilitjr was evident where
guinea grass was sprayed at the rate of 100 lb. TCA per acre a n d
MR. hlATTHEWS leplied that the area sprayed was not completely
sterilised. MR. M c A L E E S E further advised that young winter weed
germinated on this area six weeks after spraying. with TCA. MR.
PRICE ~ ' s k e dwhether there was any risk in using C M ; on tramlines.
ILR. KING replied that be h a d no information on this particular aspect
but if n o risk were attached t o the use of other cheaper weedicides he
asked why use more costly and possibly more dangerous material.
hlli. PRICE in furtherance of his remarks stated that permanent
sterilitj i < not required on tlarnlines as sometimes i t is desirable to leave
cotlch crrass to pievent e~osion.
MR. CWlTKCTIMT14RDin discussing equipment stated that chain
dribe5 wele bettel than belt chives foi higher pressules because there
is not as much wear and tear on the pump. ITe had found that pre-
emeigence spraying with 2,1 11 la5t >eal was less successful than in the
previous yea1 as there weir more breakdowns after application.
AIR. PHI1,LIPS requested information on thc m a x i m u ~ ncost per
acre permissible for two sprayings to be an economic proposition.
AIR. YOI'NG replied t h a t the cost allowable would depend on t h e
efficiency of control obtained but it would not need to be inore t h a n
27 '&l. per acre per spraying. This would compare favourably with
mecl~anicalculti.iation fol the crop. He felt that it n a s necessary t o
t a k e i n t ~consideration srich factor> as the effectiveness of the work,
thc effect of rain on the soil and the growth stage of the clop. Hc did
not thin11 s p a ) inr. woulcl do away n ith mechanical cultivation i l l
31ai-h! notnritllstandine the iesult. appalentiy b r i q cbtainxl further
ncistll.
 hlK. VOLP, quoting Northern experience pointed out that pre-
emergence in the Cairns area had given both good and bad results,
however, the results of one trial showed that it was necessary to cultivate
fire times t o obtain the result achieved by one pc-emergence spraying
at the rate of 4 lb. per acre. The extra cultivation was detrimental to
stooling and growth. I n answer to a question from MIi. WILSON,
AIR. \'OI,P statrd that these results were not obtained on nut grass
country, but he had found that on a river flat infestcd with nut grass,
follon-ing an initial application of 4 lb. per acre 3,4-L) after planting,
plus 2 lb. of 2,4-U per acre overall for nut grass, no Further treatment
was necessary before the cane had cwered in. I-Ie informed MR. DONE
that the sprayed area was cleaner than where the land had becn culti-
vated with a rotary hoe.
AIR. DART, ~eferringto R l l i . YOUNC;'s lequest to manufactu~eib
rnrntioncd that valiations in soils and types of weeds and classes had
I n iniportmt bearing on the oubject. He said that since there is a differ-
ence in the selectivity of weedicides, combinations oi weedicides may be
better fitted to solve particular problems peculiar to an area. TC 2 and
PCP mixtures have given good results in killing glasses on tramlines.
E h felt that it was a matter for study by the grower as well as the
manulacturer.
AIR. 'I'OOFIEY stated that combinations of various materials had
been tried with promising results.
AIR. hflTRDOCII said that he agrred with RIR. KING in adopt-
ing a cautious attitude towards CMTJ.
hlR. GIBSON quoted the experience of a Bundaberg farmer who
had remarkable success during his first year with chemical weed control
but he was displeased with the results achieved during thc second year.
AIR. C'lilRCf-ILTrZRU letnarkcd that when uniform results were
not obtained in succeeding years the grower's enthusiasm waned after
the second yeal. In his own case wide breakdowns occurred on snlall
portions of thc areas sprayed during the second year, they were not as
.,erbus as appearances first suggested. He felt that fertilizing operations
werc I-esponsible for some of the eEccts.
The CHAIRRIAN in closing the subject remarked that a very
rnteresting discussion had taken place. 1Ie agreed with hlr. Young
that there were too many proprietary names and that it was desirable
for manufacturcrs and research workers t o sort out the many iormula-
tions and thus reduce the existing confusion. This would assist growers
towards a better appreciation of chemical weedicides. He advocated
field trials to tcst the many and varied formulaticms in the hope that
the position might be clarified with beneficial res~iltsto hIackay growers.
 Tuesday, 27th April, 1974
Afternoon Session

AGRICULTURAL S
Chairman: C. G. STORY
Paper: ""An Analysis of Trash Conservation," by N. J. King
7he CIlAIllhlXN, in cteclnring h e paper open for cliscussion said
hat the paper submitted by h l r . Icing was a very informative one
which would undoubtedlq form the basis for a very intereating dis-
cussion.

hlR. NIELSEN said hc felt that only a very small amount of

potash would be returned t o the soil by trash conservation and inquirecl
if figures were available for the percentage of potash returned to the
soil bj- the trial a t Bundaberg. MR. KI1VC: replied that he could not
give tbat ~nformationwithout reference to figures for the trial.
AIR. GKAHAhI advised that in Bingera's experience equal crops
were obtained on trashed and non-trashed areas.
YIR. SOPEX said that he had liste~lcdwith interest and disap-
pointment- to hlr. King's paper. For centuries it has been the policy
In Kngland to return all decaying matter to the soil, and prior 20 t h e
use cif artificial fertilizers, the practice was responsible for the excellent.
results achieved. Twenty-five years ago he had listened t o Alr.
Christensen deliver a lecture on trash conservation in the hlackay T0u7n
Hall. It a ~ y x a r e dto him that the return of trash, or any organic
matter: tc the soil must irnprove it to a prcat extent. If this were not
so, was there an!. \.due in using mill rnl~ds.
M R . K l h G replied that the Uuleau was also disappointed L))-
results achieved, b u t were a t the same time ccnvinced by them. 'There
were d couple of p i n t s he would like to clarify. I n the excellent scil
on the Bundaberg Expe~imeritStatic n \\here the trial was situated no
response was achieved by the addition of the oiganic mattcl suppllecl
in trash ccmservation. I t was possible that on poolet clas, lands ~ h c
p h p i c a l tcwtule of the soil could be irnprm ed. As fa1 as mill. muds were
ccnccrned the lime and bagacilic 1)rescnt in these muds might c?en up
tight soils. At Rotharnsted Experiment Station H, long term experiment
t o detern~inethe comparative values of farmyard rnanurcs and artificial
:citrlizers was initiated in 1840. In one hunjrcd yells it v:as pro.;ecl
tbat the only value obtained from the farmyard manure was from the
N. P and T< L>rescnt in this manure. Equal results n e i e obtained nit11
artificial fertilizers.
MR. WILSON was of thc opinion that the nloisture co3r:'nt aspect
was an importrnt feature cf trash conscrvatiun. A blanket of mulch a s
supplied hy the trash would take up a large amount of moisture with
 light rain. Evaporation took place from the trash as from the soil but
weeks after rain the ground surface beneath mulched areas was still
moist. However, in some cases protection against evaporatiorl was
nlore apparent than real as measureme~~ts t o a depth of three feet on
certain trials had proved.
MR. II(JGIIES claimed that an interesting point was the clegree
of availability of plant foods in different manures t o the plant. He
asked i f two plots---one treated with farmyard manure and thr other
Mrithartificial fertilizer-were left fallow for twelve months, which would
I>roVidethe best plant g o w t h in a subsequent crop. LIT<. KING ad-
vised that there would be no difference in crop giver1 equal
conditions on the trial plots, provided that the S, P and I< in the farm-
yald and artificial manures were the same. I n repl) to h211. BOI'RICE,
MR. KING said that the area treated with trash had not held moisture
any better.
UNC expressed the belief that any improvement achieved
aI~pearedto be merely the result of the conserved trash returning N, P
and K t o the soil. H e did not believe that physical condition vr;as as
important as plant food, nor did he think it sound policy to attempt to
1,uild up the physical condition of the soil if increased crop yields did
not result. ITe felt that no great loss was occasioned by burning off
trash.
MR. ICING said that results would depend on soil type and environ-
ment. EIe referred t o the last paragraph of his paper, and pointed out
that on soil types other than that on which the trial took place, the
incol poration of trash could have beneficial results.
LVR. FOX agreed and remarked that although no improvement
nab recorded in the trial described, Mr. Rlundell of Goondi had prac-
tised trash conservation extensively and obtained excellent results. B e
believed that fertilizers should not be known as artificial since X, P and
K in various forms will produce the same results. H e thought it would
be better to call them chemical aids.
hlR. STORY advised that a trash consrrvation trial a t ilfacka)
was in its second cycle. Prior to the wet season there w a i no nc ticeable
diflercnce Lut there was now a marked distinction between the areas.
Where the trash was conserved there was better stooling, with a thicker
stalk, and colour of the top was of a slightly darker green. 2411plotb
received the same fertilizer treatment. I n &lackay after the wet season
when ~ h c s eclayey soils dried out the non-trash area would set hart1
Trash (m these areas should help prevent this setting of the soil.
AIR. R'ILSON b e l i e d that this improvement might be bound
up with plant food. He askcd how much these plots received ant1 said
that the fertilizing of sugar cane should be done on an economic basis
and econonlics should govern the amounts applied t o crops. It ~ , a <
possible that the cane was able t o utilize extra fertilizer from the tlash
and therefore a response was obtained.
replied that in the plant crop both plots received two
au NO. 2 Planting ixture per acre. Ratoons re-
gal- Bureau No. 2 ooning Mixture plus 13 !>ags
90
>iilphate of ammonia per acre. A crop of velvet bean was sown but
under the poor conditions that prevailed it only produced half a normal
crop. Any extra plant food received could have been only from the
trash.
hlR. SOP'ER, Jnr., asked if there were any indication of the
amount of moisture available t o the crop and did it vary during the
decomposition of the trash. Filter mud gave prolific growth but also
might cause burning t o a large degree.
MR.KING stated that the amount of moisture held in this par-ticu-
lar red soil with frce drainage after rain was 31 per cent. A crop re-
duced this to 20 per cent. at which point the plant could not utilise the
remaining watei and the cane stopped growing. rIhese figures were
3

obtained from a given soil after rain and crop measurements. The
burning effect attributed to filter mud is brought about when lush
growth d u e t o the plant foods in the mud and g t d growing conditions
i- halted by a dry spell.
hlR. SOPER, Jnr.. remarlied that bagasse took twenty-four months
helore decomposition was complete. He enquired how long trash took
to decompose. MR. K I N G informed members that when trash was
conm-led as a blanket decomposition was very s l o ~ but
~ , when it wa.:
ploughed in, and followed by a gleen manure crop, deccxnposition was
complete by planting time.
'The CHATRhlAN in closing the debate said that he felt that all
had benefitted from LlR. KING'S paper and that a very interestiny
discussiun had been held.

MR. GREENJAWAY presented his paper.

Discussion:
&RNIk:I,SI',N commented on the undoubted value of the cura-
tive t~eatment. In Babinda treated cane showed better stooling and
p o w t h than untreated cane. I-le considered that the lower germination
obtained from the first planting of heat-~reated,cane was compensated
to considetable degree b.; better stooling and gic~wth. T h e yield from
a 75 per cent. germination of treated cane would be as great as from
100 per cent. perminaticn of untreated cane. IXe asked Mr. Greenaway
what wirenetting baskets cost and whether they were damaged greatly
in usr or mere fit t o use another season.
AIR. GREENAWAY r e p l i d that except for rare occurrences of
selious xcidental damage, the baskets had suffered only by breaking
of a propoition of the welds. These were rewelded. baskets were
undarnaped and still fit for use. A local. firm had q f 3 / 1 5 / - each
for complete baskets but he understoa a t this cost had been sub-
stantially ~xceededin manufacture. T h e kay Cane Pest and Disease
Control Board supplied the steel for some basket frames and paid 27/6
17erbasket for the welding. 7'he Board tlicn made the wirenetting sides
with its own labour of which no record was kept. The netting cost
varied from L4 per roll for Australian to 7 per roll for imported
netting.
AIR. STORY stated that the Experiment Station baskets stood up
very well and suffered n o broken welds. He had ascertained from the
manufacture1 that the baskets quoted at f 3 / 1 5 1- each had actually cost
L5 '7/6.
AIR. HITCHES congratulated h3r. Greenaway and his staff on
thc work done and the publication of this paper. Biological testh of the
solution in the Pleystowe tank done by the Bureau had shown that thr
mercury content had been difficult t o maintain. Altllough an initial
charge of 28 lb. of Baytan on the first day of the week was supplemented
by daily additions of 7 lb. it was necessary to discard the solution a t
the end of five days. IIe asked Mr. Greenamay if he proposed t o
change ovel to a c d d inercurial dip on this account.

hIR. GREENAWA'I7 replied that the lifting facilities inight be

improved next year in which case hc would use a cold dip. The intro-
cluction of PhIh might reduce mercurial costs substantially and render
the economy o f the c d d dip less important.

In reply to a question from MR. FOX as t o whether the hot plants

would heat u p the cold dip to an undesirable degree, MR. STORY
replied that it cooled again during the next period of heat treatment.
hlli. WILSON stated that when baskets were used the heating effect
due to contact with the canc would not be great. Some Boards treated
cane in bags and the hot water held by the hessian was a more import-
ant source 01 heat, however, he felt that some heating of the cold dip
was of no significance. The economics of cold dipping could be based
or: hi., c m n obiervation that a bag oI plants taken from hot water and
then cold dipped absorbed half a gallon of the cold dip when moderate
drainage was practised. This would cost 4/6 to 5 1- for nmxurial per
ton of cane and would be less where baskets were employed.

hIIi. NIELSEN considered that the value of the treated cane was
high and the relative cost ol mercurial should not be over emphasised.

AIR. LliUNG0MER'17 emphasised the importance of ensuring that

the cane was in contact with water a t not less than 50" C. This was a
critical minimum temperature. The use of baskets in preference t o
bags assisted circulation thereby removing water chilled by contact with
the plants and replacing it with water at the correct temperature. H e
went on to point out that care was still necessary even after the hot
water treatment had been carried out and that there were further
pit-falls if the cane were grown by careless farmers. For example,
misses had been supplied with diseased cane in some instances. I n
other cases diseased volunteer stools were permitted t o grow in the
healthy- cane. Some growers had passed healthy planting material
through disease-contaminated planters. He felt that the Mackay Board
had followed a sound policy whereby treated cane was not propagated
haphazardly on innumerable individual farms, but under the Board's
supervision and control on a few selected farms where precautions could
be taken against re-infection.
hIR. (;KEENAWAY stated that the Koard's initial policy had
been t o concentrate on existing commercial ~ a r i e h e s only, b ~ thet
Bureau had asked that SO acres be planted of three piornising new
varieties 11ow undergoing propagation. These were C.P.29/116, (2.56
and Q.58.
I n order t o ensure the propagation o f sufficient. healthy stocks of
commercial varieties, his Board Iiad adopted a policy which required
any grower desiring to plant the new varieties t o plant a t ieast an
equivalent acleage of com~nercialvarieties in addition. T o avoid multi-
plicit? of sites for later inspection and control, minimum areas of one
acre were specified w h e ~ epossible but the limited carrying capacity of
some farmers' behides made it necessaly to reduce this in a few caseb.
7 3
1his year minimum plantings would be one acre of commercial rarietl
and one of new variety.
MR. STORY stressed the advantage of a circular saw combined
with baskets for fast plant cutting. A small engine and saw could be
mounted on a slide and used where required. T o assist water circulation
handfuls of plants %ere laid alternately crosswise in the baskets. Fonr
hundred plants of well grown Q.50 o r five hundred of smaller cane filled
a hasket measuring 1 ft. 9in. x 1 ft. 6 in. x 3 ft. In his expelience
baskets were much better for handling plants and bags would not be
used in future on the Sugar Experiment Station.
MR. SOPER expressed appreciation of the research and practical
measures for control that had been achieved and he hoped that disap-
pointment would not arise because of lack of fundamental knowledge.
Ratoon stunting disease is presumably caused by a virus and natural
transn~issiondue t o unknown factors might frustrate the control meas-
ures. Some soil deficiency might contribute t o the incidence of the
disease.
RIK. C;REE:NAFVAV considered that the provision of healthy
plants was the major requirement t o control the disease, combined with
subsequent care against mechanical contamination.
MR. I K G H E S did not anticipate that the provision of an initial
stock of healthy cane this year would immediately s d v e the problem.
Some re-infection might occur and persistent renewal of clean stocks
for several years may be needed.
MR. VOITNG suggested that the causes of germination failure
should be more closely examined. The hot water treatment was evi-
dently not the only factor. Agricultural practice rnight be involved.
Emphasis should be laid on complete cure, not immediate cost.
The CHAIRMAN pointed out that Mr. Greenaway's paper had
analyszd the causes of some failures insofar as they could be attributed
to known factors and said that further work would be required to
investigate unknown causes.
 er: "The Year 195

Tile paper was presented by the author.

Discussion:

In leply to cliticiym by AIR. SOPEX that thc bablc f ~ n d a i i l c n t ~ t l ~

regarding latoon stunting d~sea,e n ere nct being adequately in1 ihzti-
p t e d , hIR. HITC,Hli,Sreplied that h h . Stemcl1 had cairled out extenlllz
studies at Berkeley-a university noted f o ~itb eminence in ~ 1 1 u .!c-
and hi, ,tndie- went to show that althotrph mote knowleci~e
was being accunlulated about the really potent viluses such as tobacco
n~osaic, &ere %as stdl n o evidence of any nlethod of examination
~t could bc said that a virus disease was present in a i ~ l a n Ot I
not, or that a stool could be clashed as tliseaieci oi health> othei than b)
rnoculat~on
Regaiding n a t ~ u a ln~edn. of ~ntect~on, he o~~specteci
a \er) diyllt
>pleacl unciei certain c i l cum\tdnceb but again\t thib n ; i b the e t ltiense
of diseased and healthy plants growing slde by side fol a conderable
pied. rhere could be no gualantee that the healrhj cane ~ o u l dle-
main so indet~nitclq,hut, ptov~dedadeqmte pieiautionb were taken the
spread sliould not be ?!eat. IT it11 legaid to m l cflcct, ~t had b t m
found that ~ncs~ilaticn, 11 n h i ~ hhad pre\iouilq g-ro,~n d~wa,eil
Irc r n i(
cane, had not produced any infection. Some varieties showed gieatcr
susccptibility than other, 2nd te=-l,tatice tiial n e l c being conductct!
n it11 all tlic cctm~nercials arieties that were approx ed throughout I he
State.
I n fuithei iefercnce to hlr. Soper's remarks, AIR. WILSON mcn-
timed that the question of tiansmitting iatcmn ,tunting diseabe n a , not
being ~gnored, and insect t~ansmisslon studie, :nto both this and
chlorotic streak disease were being carried out at the Northern Sugar
Experiment Station. The experiments would be examined late1 in the
year when the ,q mptoms of ratoon stunting diacase meie usually mole
clearly defined.
MR. McD. SILII'L'H icfeiled to F ' P ~ ~ ~ c z I I z zinI ~ the
z Bundabelg dis-
~ enquired whethet this fungu5 nould be encouraged by bulning
t ~ i cand
or whether antagonistic microflora would be built up bp trash con\elva-
tion. In repIy MR. HITGHES said it was impossible t o forecast the
effect of these practices on the incidence of Verticilliurn. 'There ivele a
number of current trials which involved various forms of soil arneliora-
tlun, but it was a mattel of wait and see. I n anbwer to anothel queiy,
hlR. HUGHES also told him that thickness of stalk had no influence
on the appearance of the internal symptonls of latoon stunting d~seabe
nor was the curative effect impaired provided the 5ett receivecl the
required t~eatment.
In response to a question bp MR. STORY ~egardingthe odour
associated with V~rticilliurn3TR. HITGI-IES described it as a character-
istic smell which ianged between mushrooms and formic acid. MR.
NIELSF": stated that cane which had been hot-water-treated aQain5r
94
racoon stunting disease Iast bpring. had since become iniected with
chlorotic streak disease in the Kabinda district.
MR. WADDELL asked whether a variety which resists soil fungi
would alsc, resist deterioration bt such organisms as red rot, etc. In
reply hlR. I-IVGHES stated that there were different organisfis in-
volved and there was no correlation between a variety's reactiorr to
pineapple disease and red rot.

MR. BOTXKI'. referred to implements working through healthy

and diseased cane anti enquirccl whether it was possible to transfer the
ratom stunting virus bl- means uf a scarifier or other implements.
EIT'GI-IES replied that the disease organism was present in t.he roots
a n d lcaves a? well as the stalk----it was extremely infectious and coi~ld
easily be spread by bumper discs cutting into the stubble. There was
no evidence that the scariiier was spreading the inlectinn, but trans-
mission by this rneans could occur and this point was being watched. In
all cult.i~-ationwork it was necessary to sterilize the irnplerncn~s ant1
;ultivate the healthy cane first.

MR. RILSON added that the use of solutions in dipping units or

in recirculating spray units attached to cutter planters coul(1 also be
regarded as a rneans crf transferring the virus from diseased to healthy
planting material. MR. HUGIIES said this aspect was not being lost
sight of and vario~ischemicals were being tested as a nieans of inacti-
vating the virus. Xn addition to this property they m u s t also bc com-
patible with organic mercury solutions and be non-corrosive.

MR. ILLclKRVDE: said it was essential that the organic melcurial

l u r l ~ i cdes bhciilld be used to the hest possible advantage. Sludge should
be cleaned out of the tanks, arid the tanks lined with some resistant
t y w of paint and the Canp Pest and Diseaae Control Hoards gixen full
ouidance regarding deterioration of mercury sohltions. hTK. HlTGlIES,
in reply, stated that they had been recommended to commence with
clean tanks, clean plants and clem bags. Recommendations based on
biological assays had been made t o discard all hot mercurial solutions
l~fterfive days. while the cold dips flequentlj lahted up to thlee weeks
or longer. If there was any noticeable black srnndge the solution should
be discarded. Cast iron tanks stood up to the solution better than mild
steel. A number of paints had been tried but a black heat-resisting
"Killrust" paint had been found the most satisfactory in resisting
corrosion.

The paper was presented by the author.

In opening the paper for discussion, the CHAIRMAN p i n t e d out

that the IOW sugar content of cane grown on rich land was a serious
ploblem in many mill areas, espednlly in the northern part of the State.
95
 MR. BOURKE stated that rhe varieties Pindar and Q.3-7 were the
best available for pockets of rich soil a t B i n g e ~ a ,which were subject t n
frost. These fields were planted in A p ~ i land after being frosted back
t o glound level, came aT:,ay t o p~aclucca good. comparatively elect clop.
0.49 had also done well under these corditions but it did not give a4
high a test as the othel varieties in the e a ~ l yp a l t of the sea,on; on the
cther 'nand, the c.c.s. remained steady for a considelabic period.
RIR.IZLZACOTT said that these varieties werc not suitable for
rich land in North Queensland but one variety, E.147, which used to be
prc.wn on a small scale, did give a satisfactor)- c.c.s. even on the richest
flats. Howcver, the stalks were inordinately long and fcrnied such a
tangled mass a t harvest that it was impossible t o get cutters to handle
it. I n reply t o MR. NIELSEK he statcci that lighter planting with
wider spacing betureen the rows n.c~nldnot be a solution since lodging
would occ11r just t h e same and the c.c.s. would not be improved.
MR. liU=i(;quoted results of experiments carried out on tile
13undaberg Sugar Experiment Station some years ago when it was found
that heavier than rmrr-nal planting did not lead t o any increase either in
cane per acre or sugar content.
AIR. K. HI'CXIES thought t h a ~tllel e n as loom fol cona;derat)!c
improvement in [aiming practices in genclal ancl that it no11ld bc t o
the farmers' advantage t o make more use of the Buleau with ~ ~ g a to id
fertilizer recommendations. In addition, each district could also help
~ 1 x b t a ~ t e dby the
itsell: a t AIossman, for instance, a soil sul\cy n a to
Mill in the near future.
'I'he CI'LAIRhIAN, in closing the discuAori, said that AIR. RITZ\-
COT"T, who was in charge of the plant-breeding activities of the Bureau,
was faced with rnany difficultie\ in bleeding canes f o ~special c c d i t i o n s ;
not the least of these was the long time it took from the making of the
desired cross untd the cane was ready for commelcial propagation.
 ednesday, 28th April, 1974

Chairman: M R . R. W, G. IIESSEV, President

The President's I
T I E P R E S I D E N T called the meetinp to order and annoimced
that, after careful consideration, he had decided that the President's
Medal should be awarded to Mr. 7'. G. Whalley. In making the choice
of Mr. Wballey he had had t o eliminate several strong contenders for
the award. In selecting Mr. I'halley he was giving recognition t o not
only his two cuntributicms to the current Proceedings but also his
original research papers ol earlier years.
MR. WHAI,LEY responded with exprcssions of pleasant surprise
and pride a t being selected for the honour conferred by the President.

Venue of 1955 Conferen~ce

THF PRESIDENT announced that two in1 itations had been ad-
dlessed t o the Society requesting that the cities of AIaryborough and
Cairns rrspectii-ely be selected as the venue for the 1955 Conference.
Ile had discussed the m a t t e ~with the F,aecutive officers who had agreed
that the iacilities offering in Cairn> as regards accommodation and
comenience of access to sugar mills were supe~iorto those in hJary-
borough. Iie therefore corninended the choice of Cairns to the dele
g a t e . A@?. STArWr'ON moved that the 1955 Confermce be held in
Cairns. This was seconded by R R KING and carlied.

MR. HAYDEN presented a resolution of the meeting o f the -4d-

rninistrative Section held on April 26. as follows:
"'That the Committee on bulk liiandlinv continue its existence
U

and that its services be available to any individual niill or

industry organization through Dr. 11. V?. Kerr who, it is
recommended, should be made a member of the committee."
This resolution was endorsed.

THE SECRETAKJ' presented and moved a resolution of the meet-

ing of the M a n u f a c t ~ r r i nSection
~ held on 27th April.
"That this Scciety again expresses gratitude to the C.S.I.R.O.
for continuing the work of research in sugar cane wax and
reaffirms its offer of full co-operation in the project."
This resolution was endorsed.
 THE SECRETARY annoilnced that the Executive submitted the
names of the following associate members fur promotion to full mem-
bership-
P. G. ATHERTON, L. E . UAVIE:S, D. f l . FOSTER, S. GREENA-
WAY, K. HtTGHES, J. F. KENNY, A. A. MAlVTHEWS, L. J. F.
PRINCE, D. J. PRICE, K . J. RI'THE:RFORI>, A. SARANIN, C.
L. T001iE;Y, C. IVHITSON.
M R . CAMERON moved that the promotions be confirmed;
VENTON seconded the motion which was then carried.
7'HE: SECRETARY then read a ~esolutiorlof the Executive--
"That the previous resolution-that the President of the Society
for the time being be the Regional T ice-Chairman of the
1.S.S.C.T.-be rescinded."
THE PIIT1:SII)EN'I' esplaincd that Internatiord Gong,-sses werc
held only every third year and it was desirable that one. person occupy
the office of \:ice-Chairman of the 1.S.S.C.T. during the major portion
of the long break between congresses. This would simplify the task of
the chief dlicers of the 1.S.S.C.T. 'I'lic resolution was endorsed.
'['HE SECRETARY then read a further resolution of the Exccu-
tive which had been passed for submission 011 the condition that the
earlier resolution was endorsed - S

"That the Regional \'ice-Chait n i m of the I.S.S.C.T. be elected

by the Society at the first conference fdlowing each Tnterna-
tional Congress and that h(- wrve until the next election held
in accordance with the above terms."
This resolution was endorsed.
T I E PRESIDEN'I' then nominated hlr. X. J . King who, he said,
as the General Vice-Chairman of the I.S.S.G.T., would be a most worthy
representative of the Queensland Regional htdy. 'I'hrre were no furthel
nominations, and Mr. Kinp was declared elected.

TI-IE P R E S I D E K T xoiceJ a debt of gratitude on behalf of

himself and the Society for thr assistance rendered by numerous persons
and o~ganizationson the c,ccasion of the current conference. He made
special mention of the sterling service rcncleted by Mr. Stan C'menaway
who had carried out the clutie:, oi accommodation officer with complete
success in the face of a record demand for bookings.
T H E P R E S I D E N T then handed to Mr. Greenaway a presenta-
tion tray which had been engraved with a memento of the occasion.
R. GREENAWAY expressed his appreciation of the gift.
 TIIE 13KESILlES'T went on to return thank.; to the following
persons or organizations---
The hlackay Sugar hIanufact~11-ers'Association.
hlackay Ilistrict Cane Growers' Executive.
L\rnalgamated Sugar Mills P'ty. Ltd.
Plane C'leek Central Rlill Company.
Racecourse Co-op. Sugar hlilling Association.
.lustralian National Powrr Alcollol Ltd.
Sugar- Research I ,irnitcct.
'The I'nlversity of Queensland.
AIr. -1.S. Hamilton and hlackay Harbour Boaid.
The Bundaberg Foundry Company.
I'i'alliers Limited.
The representatixes of the trade organizations contributing to the
trade function.
The Kowlinq Clubs -City, Rlackay, Korth Pllackay. RIarian ant1
Suburban.
The Mackay Golf Club.
The Rlacka~Club.
K. 1IcGinn and Co.
Taylor Eatate.
Chlistidn Brothers' College.
11s. Kallace. IVaikerston State School.
Alcsdarnes E. C. Bow, S. Greenanray. J . I . Ilayden. K. G
Hessey, F. Jo~gensen,A. 15. I'ninton, G. Shalr, P. Q . Staunton,
J . R'ebstcr.
vote of thanks was carried hp acclamation.

THE PRESIDENT, in n fen. fitting uwds, explained that his term

office was at an end. H e thanked the Executirc and the rnembcrs for
i ~ f

their support and called upon the Secretary to take the chair.

'rHK SF:GRET.I\R\; called for norninatiuns for the office of

I'resident. h113. HESSEJ7, retiring President. nominated h1R. P. 5.
Sl'AliNTON, 1 icc-President. There were no other nominations and
l l r . S~auntonwas elected President. with acclamation.
'1'TTF PIIESIUEU'I' took the chair and rose to express thanks for
hi:, eleration to the ofice. Me then addressed commendatory 1ernark5
t v thc ncn Seniol 17icePrcsider~t hlr. Hessep. thanked him for his
selrices a, President durinp the previous year and presented to him a
coffee-se~viceand a brace of silxer tankards. H e also handed to 11Ir.
ITessey a Gold Badge of the Society to commemorate his term of office
a9 President. hlR. IIESSEY responded with thanks.
 !Y.
'I'EIE I'KESIDENT nominated !,h. I<. t h u s as Junior l'icc-
Illesicient. 'Tlrere M ere n o i)tllcr nonlirlations a d Mr. Duus wah de-
clarccl elected.

Xominaticns welt tli~11called ior the offices of Secietarj and

As4stant Secietaly 311~1AIessri. J. L. Clayton and A. 13. Henclerw~:
I e,nectircly w c ~ eelected u n o p p o ~ e d .

'THE SP:C:RE:T/\RT then ;,~inoi~llcecIthe selection of csecutive

I r i ~ r < ~ w ~ l t x of
t i vthe
~ s Sections as follows--

Agricult~rralSrc tirm : C. c;. STOR1- (Ghairrnan).

C. G. TIL-(:HES (Secrctal y )
l ' h e rrlcnlbers o f thc new t.\ccutirc iooL their places a t the eueclq-
ti;. e tablc amidst acclamation.

\llwn nominations were called for the Publicniic:n\ C o l n m i t t t w

hIR. J. IT.HAITDEN nonlimted h f e s s ~ s .N. J. King ( C h a i i r n a ~ l ) ,I .
C;. Vallance (Editol). J. L. Clayton, J . H. Niclilin and 11. W. I ~ I .
v 1
I hete were no other nominations and thoze napecl n e t e clcclalzc!
elected.
There being n o further business THE PRESIDENT wished dele-
pates a pleasant stay in Alackay and a safe leturn home.
T h e meeting ivas declared closed.