asked the Minister for Supplies if he has received representations from the corn millers of West Cork, who grind wheat on commission and produce wholemeal flour, asking him to reconsider the position regarding those mills under the Flour Milling Order, fixing 85 per cent. flour extraction, and to grant them permits to screen at least 7½ per cent. coarse bran and other refuse from the wholemeal produced; if so, if he will state what action he proposes to take on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Cork Millers' Representations.
I have received the representations referred to by the Deputy. I regret that, in present circumstances, permission cannot be granted for the production of wheatenmeal or wholemeal of an extraction less than 100 per cent. All millers are permitted, when cleaning a bulk of wheat for milling, to remove screenings, seeds and dust to the extent of 1½ per cent. of the total weight of the bulk.
I wonder does the Minister understand the situation? The 1½ per cent. refuse that is removed is infinitesimal in comparison to the quantity of meal that is being ground. It does not remove the dross. The Minister possibly knows that threshing mills are not allowed to screen wheat with a rotary screen, with the result that there is a good deal of outside matter—refuse and that sort of thing— in the wheat. As the season advances the position in regard to this is getting more serious. I do not want to engage in a discussion with the Minister across the House about this, but I should like to discuss it with him or his representatives. The Minister knows that sieving is being carried on, and that there is 10 per cent. or perhaps 20 per cent., of the stuff being extracted.
Any reasonable measures that are necessary to enable millers to clean the wheat will be considered, but if the Deputy has in mind the production of offals by wheaten mill millers that cannot be permitted.
No. I am thinking of the 7½ per cent. that comes off. It is only a flea-bite in comparison to the total. It does not affect the offal situation, but, if what I have in mind were done, it would give the people of the country an opportunity of getting decent flour, which they have not at the moment.