FARMERS' UNION

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21648, 5 December 1935, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION

NORTH CANTERBURY EXECUTIVE DOUBLE WEIGHING OF POTATOES A complaint that the practice of weighing trucks of produce at Lyttelton or on other weighbridges a'fter farmers had already secured Government weights at local stations led to confusion and argument when the weights differed was made in a letter received at a meeting of the North Canterbury executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday. The letter was irorn the Waimairi branch of the union, and stated that double weighing also put farmers to extra expense. The executive was asked to take action. The Railway Department's reply to this stated that in the particular case mentioned potatoes were weighed over, the cart weighbridge at Belfast and, at the request of the agent for the consignee, were weighed at Lyttelton over the waggon weighbridge. There was a discrepancy of 2\ cwt. in the two weights, which could not be accounted for. The weighbridges were tested regularly and the staff called on to use special care when weighing goods. Instructions would be given to prevent a s'milar occurrence in future. The letters were received and it was decided to take no further action. Purchase of Birds' Eggs Another letter from the Waimairi branch said that the Waimairi County Council had declined the branch's request to buy birds' eggs to keep down small birds. The reason given was that neighbouring counties did not buy eggs, and the Waimairi Council felt that it would be buying eggs from all the surrounding counties. The branch asked the executive to take action to endeavour to secure cooperation among the counties. Mr R. T. McMillan said it was a matter for the ratepayers. There should be no difficulty about county councils buying eggs and heads if they were pressed to do so. It was decided to advise the Waimairi branch to take the matter up with the ratepayers in the adjoining counties. There were present at the meetingMessrs J. D. Hall (in the chair), R. G. Bishop, G. H. Hassall, D. J. Hawk» D. McLachlan, R. T. McMillan, R. s' Roper, F. A. Sheat. J. G. Fiecken, T. A. Guy, and A. E. G. Lyttle (secretary).