BLEACHED FLOUR.
The validity of the bleaching of flour by chemical process was a question which engaged the attention of many official Co-operators during the spring and summer of 1912. Uddingston Society was prosecuted for a contravention of the Food and Drugs Acts because they had sold to a Food and Drugs inspector one pound of flour which had been bleached or oxidised by artificial means. The case was defended by the S.C.W.S., from whom the flour had been purchased, and at whose Regent mills it had been milled. Almost all the chemical and milling experts in the country gave evidence as witnesses on one side or the other, and the Sheriff before whom the case was heard was left with a mass of opposing technical evidence to unravel such as he had seldom had to face. Ultimately he found the case not proven and, contrary to expectation, the decision was not appealed from. The U.C.B.S., like most of the other Co-operative societies in Scotland, had been using a proportion of this chemically whitened flour, but in November of 1911, shortly after the seizure of the sample at Uddingston, they decided to write to the S.C.W.S. and inform them that no further deliveries of bleached flour could be accepted. Nothing further was heard of the controversy which had raged so fiercely in Hamilton Sheriff Court, however, and so it may be taken for granted that, whatever virtues or failings flour so treated may have had, injury to health could not be proved.
A BREAD TEST.
Although the committee of the Baking Society and their experts took every precaution and themselves made every test possible, so as to ensure that only products of the highest quality were sent out from the bakery, they did not always rest content with having done that, and one of the occasions when they took steps to get the unbiassed opinions of the customer societies arose shortly after the introduction of the cover-plate ovens into the bakery. They sent out samples of the bread produced by Scotch, draw-plate, and cover-plate ovens to every society customer, with a request that the societies should test the three different loaves and indicate their preference. Altogether 634 samples were sent out and 439 replies were received. Of these 47 per cent. favoured the bread baked in the cover-plate oven, 34 per cent. favoured the draw-plate bread, and 19 per cent. the bread baked in the Scotch oven. At the same time fourteen samples had been sent to a private firm at the request of the firm, and the results there were somewhat similar. This test seemed to establish the superiority of the cover-plate oven over either of the other two forms.
ADVERTISING WORK.
When preparations were being made for the 1911 Glasgow Exhibition, the Baking Society’s committee decided to approach the boards of the S.C.W.S. and the P.C.M.S., with the object of having a joint Co-operative stand. Later, a sub-committee of the S.C.W.S. was interviewed, and an agreement was reached that a portion of the space reserved for that federation should be placed at the disposal of the Baking Society for the purpose of erecting a working exhibit. On interviewing the manager of the Exhibition, however, it was found that that gentleman would not sanction a working exhibit in that section of the Exhibition, with the result that the Baking Society’s committee decided to drop the proposal and thanked the S.C.W.S. for their kindness. Meantime, however, advantage was taken of the exhibition of Co-operative productions which was got up by the S.C.W.S. in connection with the jubilee celebrations of St Rollox Society, and there an exhibit which took the form of oatcake baking by a number of alert and smartly dressed girls, together with showcases filled with a tempting collection of the most toothsome dainties produced by the Society, was shown. At the same time, a similar exhibit was shown at Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Meantime, the engineering department of the Society undertook a very important piece of work. This was the making of several “Unitas” moulding machines for use in the bakery. The making of these machines was placed in the hands of a Scottish firm on what were deemed satisfactory terms.
About this time Enniskillen Society in Ireland was having a bad time of it because of the unfair competition of the master bakers of the town, and assistance in the form of an increased percentage on bread was given by the Belfast Branch. The directors also lodged a protest with the Irish Master Bakers’ Association. In the early weeks of 1911, the Society carried out a test at Clydebank for the purpose of ascertaining the comparative costs of gas and electricity for lighting purposes. This test showed that the Society would save 9/ per week by using electricity.
FRESH OVERTURES TO C.W.S.
At the beginning of 1911, a deputation from the board was visiting Newcastle on business, and it was decided that advantage should be taken of the opportunity to interview the Newcastle section of the C.W.S. board again, with the object of having U.C.B.S. invoices to English societies recognised by that federation. The interview was of a most friendly nature, and the members of the Newcastle section of the board promised to bring the suggestions made before the full board of the C.W.S., and give them full consideration and an early decision. This was done, but, unfortunately, with the same result as on previous occasions; the C.W.S. refused to recognise U.C.B.S. invoices.