SIZE OF CORNSACKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 21

SIZE OF CORNSACKS.

' DEPUTATION TO MR MILLAR* (FaoJi Ova Own CorbespoJideu^eT) WELLINGTON, June 15. Several southern members waited on the Minister of - Railways toe urge that the regulation under which' sacks containing wheat, oats,- or "barley exceeding 2031b in weigh are charged four times the ordinary freight, .tshould^ be, extended to apply to other produce Vjhich ha* to bs handled by manual labour. 3,%r XiaureijEon informed tte Minister that the president of ihe Stevedores' -Union in Lyttelton ha<l given the following as the weight of sacks, which men at present were being compelled to handle:— Rye, 2401b; peas, 2561b; Beans, 2521b ; clover seed, 2721b ; maize, 2241b.' The Hon. J. A. Millar, after hearing further representations on the same lines, said that he was not aware until being; told on Saturday by Mr Witty of what was going on in re.ga.rd to other cereals than wheat, oats, and barley. Since the gazetting of the regulation in regard to the last ■mentioned, representations had' been made to him to allow the maximum weight to be increased to 2051b, but he had opposed this step as bsing the thin edge of the wedge. His instructions to

the department Had been, to overlook cases in -which the maximum weight of 2031b bad been exceeded by only £lb or so, but the penalty of fourfold, freight had been inflicted,- where the bags weighed 2061b and 2071b. It \ras too late this season to make the regulations apply to the' )ther cereals named, but the principle had aeen laid down. He would at once take tfcens to collect full information*