THE SIZE OF CORNSACKS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12553, 15 July 1901, Page 4

THE SIZE OF CORNSACKS.

It is a matter for regret that the Chamber of Commerce should have dropped out of the agitation for reform in the size of cornsacks. We need not go over the ground of this controversy again. The Medical Association, deserves the greatest creuiX for its persistent advocacy of the reduction, and it is surprising to us that any body of reasonable men can. find the heart to be indifferent in face of the convincing and conclusive evidence produced by the Association. That life and health are endangered by carrying heavy cornsacks is beyond doubt, and with the facts adduced by the Medical Association before them there should be no room for “.considerable difference of opinion amongst those immediately concerned.” We presume that by “ those immediately concerned ” the Chamber of Commerce means the men who buy and sell the sacks, not the unfortunate lumpers who are condemned to carry them. The commercial community has had a couple of years in which to effect a reform, and since “those immediately concerned ” have refused to make any forward move we are forced to appeal once more to the Government to intervene in the cause of humanity. Mr Turnbull, who Las mentioned the matter in the course of his political addresses, has condemned the use of the regulation sack, and if all importers were as positive on the point and as humane in their ideas we might have the reform accomplished without Government aid. But there is, apparently, no help to be expected from the commercial community, and it remains for State to place such restrictions on the use of heavy sacks that dealers snd others will be compelled to see the question in the proper light.