SIZE OF GRAIN SACKS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13863, 27 March 1909, Page 6

SIZE OF GRAIN SACKS.

To the Editor of the "Timaru Herald." Sir,—l notice that considerable noise is being mad 6 of very small things, with regard to the new sized sacks. Alter passing about 15,000 of them through our hands- this season, I am quite of the opinion that they are just the right tiling, and that farmers and millers will join in unanimous approval of them after a year's use. ' I tun not able to say whether Mr Rhodes is right or not, in stating that the cqst of alteration of the baggers in the mills would be only £4, but I arn' given to understand it would not likely, be more, but I would certainly say that for the sake, of those who have, to lump wheat sacks all day, I would oppose by voice and vote a return co vtie 2431b sack. 1 have seen the new sack tilled with 2001 bs of flour, and with 2Uolbs of wheat. In both cases there seemed 110 fault to find. A\ hy should it be imperative to have pollard put up in 3001 b iscaks, or bran in iSOlbs (" usual shipping weights, as _ur Evans terms them)? i know' many retailers prefer bran and pollard in smaller quantities, bran in say lot) pounds, pollard in leu pounds. Millers make their sales by the ton, and not by the bag; and the shipping companies carry to ports where the heaviest shipments are made by the actual net weights, and not by the bag. Are we not making "mountains out oi mole hills" of these dillicultiesY Quite a number of my farmer clients tell me they are more than satisfied with the new sack, and would not wish to go back to the original size again. They point out that where tliey only employ one man, if needs be he can load his dray alone with comparative ease. There are a few on the other hand who feem to have a fear that their employees may only handle thesame number of 2001 bs sacks that they would if the sacks were 2431b5, and there may be a consequent loss of a few pence a day. Now I am as anxious, and as much in need may be, of making the saving of these pence as any miller or farmer in the Dominion; but if that saving is to be made by imposing, heavier burdens upon our workers than need be, thon T. for one am willing to forego the saving. J claim to speak with some authority on this matter, as the advantage and saving (if any) of the use of the older and heavier sack would mean as much to me as perhaps to any merchant or miller in South Canterbury. My shipping returns would prove this. I am fully convinced that the toilers in our stores, in the holds of our boats, and our farm workers, have been quite worthv of their hire after handling for eight hours or more the present 2001bs sack. I shall be only too pleased rr-'ist in '"""novi'iE anv difficulty that' may possibly exist in the use of the pre-

sent wheat sack, but I shall oppose any attempt to return to the' use of the 243 lb saok, hs I:am persuaded there are no difficulties that cannot be very easily overcome, if met with a willingness to overcome them'.—'l ant, etc., THOMAS BTTXTON. Temuka, March 25th, 1909.