FARMERS FAVOUR 200lb

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 22

FARMERS FAVOUR 200lb

CHMSTCHURCH, June 16. At this afternoon's meeting of the New

Zealand Farmers' Union Executive, the Chairman (Mr R. Evans) referred to the deputation consisting of Messrs Davey, Laurenson, Witty, Ell, Buxton, Craigie, M'Laren, Arnold, Glover, and Poole. M.P.'s, which waited on the Minister of Railways to urge that the regulation under which sa^ks containing wheat, oat?, or barley exceeiing 2031b are ch?rgad four times the ordinaiy freight, should be extended to apply to other picduce which lias to be handled by manual labour. The speakev said ninny extiavagant statements had been made by member.- of the depu-

tation in regard to ilie weigh' of grain ] sometimes put into sacks. It was staled that bags were ma<le to contain as much as 2701b of grain. He tliought a subcommittee should be appointed to ascertain the facts, and communicate them to the Minister. Mr T. H. Davey had stated that the Canterbury Farmers' Union had pooh-poohed the idea that men could not. carry 2401b to 2601b, alleging that the race must be deteriorating. Such a etatement, the chairman said, was quite incorrect. The union had not dij-cus^ed the [question of the weight a man should carry.

The only thing discussed was the size of sacks. After discussion it was resolved that the Minister for Railways be written to, stating that the executive was in favour" of all grain and seeds in bags being limited to 2001b.

(Fkoh Ouh Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 19.

The question of the size of grain and other sacks was Siscussed by the Northern A. and P. Association (Rangiora) yesterday. Mr K. M : lotosh said Mr George Laurenson, M.P., was running 1 a tilt at the farmingindustry on the grain sacks question, and had ana.de the extraordinary statement, which was quite new to North Canterbury, that farmers were .putting the following weights in the sacks:— Rye 2401b, peas 2561b, bea-ns 2521b, clover 2721b, and make 2 a olb. This was sure to influence the Minister of Labour's decision on the wheat and general grain sack question. Another speaker thought it was time Mr Laurenson was '" put in his place." The men at the threshing machines found the old wheat hug the handiest, and the carters said they preferred it. In conversation with men at the railway stations, he found the long bag was preferred now. Was the country to be blocked by the lumpers in port, who onljr had to send the- bags down into the shoots? Some years ago he cook a hand at vessel-loading in port, and found there was no difficulty. But it would not re enough to get a restricted bag in the interest of a few lumpers. The farmers would soon have to send their orrain along in sample bags. Mr Laureason, as a member of Parliament, had no regard for the commerce of the country, and it was time the farmers made a strong protest. The chairman- remarked that the time was very inopportune for a protest. He would be gl.ad to know if the merchants paid out to the farmers on 6uch weights as those quoted.