THE WEIGHT OF GRAIN SACKS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 539, 21 June 1909, Page 10

THE WEIGHT OF GRAIN SACKS.

OPINION 'OF CANTERBURY-'FARMERS. ! (By Telegraph-Special Correspondent.) Chrlstchurch, Juno 19. The question of the.size of grain and other sacks was discussed by the Northern A. and IV Association (Rangiora) yesterday. Mr. K.' M'lntosh said that Mr. George Laurenson;. M.P:, was running a tilt at. the farming'industry on'the gram sacks question, and had made tho extraordinary statement (which was quite new to North Canterbury) that farmers wero putting the following weights in the sacks:—Rye, 2401b.: peas, 2561b.; beans, 2521b.'; clover, 2721b.; maize, 2401b: This was sure to influence the Minister for Labour's decisions on the wheat and general grain sack question. Another speaker thought that it was time that Mr. Laurenson was •" put,in'his place." Tho men at the threshing .machines found the old wheat bag the'■ handiest, and tho carters said that they preferred it. In conversation with. the.men at the railway sta-, tkm-s, lie found that'the long'bag was preferred. Was the'country to be blocked by the lumpers in port, who only had' to send tho bags down into the shoots P\ Some years ago ho took a hand at vessel-loading in port, and found that there was no difficulty, but it would npt bo enough to get a restricted bag in the'interest, of a few : lumperß. The farmers Would soon have to send their grain along in sample bags.'. Mr. ■ Laurenson, \as. a member of Parliament, had no regard for tho commerce of the country, and it was time that tho farmers made a strong protest. . The chairman remarked that the time, was very inopportune for a protest. He would be glad to know if tho merchants paid out to' the farmers on such weights as those quoted.