GRAIN GRADING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16358, 30 September 1913, Page 2

GRAIN GRADING.

FARMERS NOT SATISFIED.

SUGGESTED ALTERATIONS.

When addressing tho Amuri Agricultural aaid Jr'astoral Association on Saturday afternoon, Mr D. D. Macfarlane said that the present system of grain grading was not at all satisfactory to tlie farmers. indeed, from their point of view the position was serious. At tho present time tho Chambers of Commerce appointed a committee which fixed the standards, and they were recognised throughout New Zealand. That was satisfactory as far as it went, for good men had been appointed to the committee. Then the Government appointed inspectors to inspect the grain exported and to give a certificate as to its quality. It was there that the system broke down, for during a visit at Lyttelton, say, with four Home ships loading, the inspectors simply could not get through the work. The grain had to bo inspected in the trucks, and he understood that there were only two inspectors at the Port to do all the work. As a consequence, loading operations were delayed and trade disorganised. With such a lot to do under such adverso conditions tho inspectors did not have a fair chance. In fact, tho system in the busy season broke down, and he had good cause for saying that the certificates given were of no value. If any produce was rejected at the ship's side the shipper was in a difficult position. He either had to make a forced sale or take his produce back to Christchurch and pay the consequent charges. This was one of the matters which could properly be dealt with by the proposed Board of Agriculture. A suggestion had been made that there should be a supervising inspeotor at each port, who would bo held responsible for every certificate issued. A clearing-shod should be erected at Heathcote or Addington, and: all produce would go through it. There all grain and so on could, be properly inspected and stacked ready for shipment, so that when tho steamers arrived they could bo loaded quickly. It would require a largo shed, but the expense was warranted. Dealing with the weighing of produce, Mr Macfarlane said that the farmers had to rely absolutely on the Railway Department. Some of the trucks, lie had been told, were too large to go on the weighbridge, so one end was weighed first and then the other, and a balance was struck. The Department would not guarantee the weights, yet charged for the weigliing.