Sacks Must be Saved SHORTAGE SEEMS CERTAIN

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 73, Issue 5, 15 November 1946, Page 470

Sacks Must be Saved SHORTAGE SEEMS CERTAIN

UNLESS the greatest care is exercised to conserve and preserve sacks, woolpacks, and other jute products, there is a danger of the Dominion’s industries-both primary and secondary-facing a serious shortage of these containers in 1947. As many industries depend directly on the use of sacks for the marketing of their goods, such a shortage must adversely affect production. \ ’ ,

npHOUGH supplies of new sacks were naturally, not as plentiful during the war as in normal times, present indications are that the world shortage of jute will become more acute next year. The primary cause is that to avert starvation among her -population India, the only country that produces jute for export, has been compelled for the past two years to plant in rice areas normally used for jute cultivation. A lowered output from the mills has also been caused by reduced hours of work, strikes, riots, and general labour unrest' throughout the country, and many mills have had to close down temporarily because of lack of coal. Furthermore the 1946 jute crop has yielded only 5,500,000 bales compared with 8,000,000 bales in 1945, and, with liberated countries needing large quantities, world demand has increased considerably.

. Shortage Appears Certain The Ind j an - Government has . . alotted an annual . uota of Jute to all countries requiring it. With the increase in production -in New Zealand expected for 1947 in industries using sacks, woolpacks, hessian, canvas, jute yarn, and raw jute, the quota ■ allocated to the Dominion appears certain to be o£ the cstima ted require . J ~ , , . merits. Whether the shortage is .. slight or serious will depend on , the attention given by producers to the care of sacks already in use. The extent to which New Zealand>s . ■•.. • , .• • . industries, and the primary industries in particular, rely on jute containers is possibly not generally realised, Estimates of the quantities required

for 1947 include: 1,000,000 woolpacks, 4,000,000 grain and seed sacks, 8,000,000 fertiliser bags, 7,000,000 lime bags, and 4,000,000 cement bags. Additional supplies are needed for bagging hour, bran, pollard, potatoes, onions, oysters, maize, poultry mashes, 'meat' meals, freezing works’ products, vegetables, sugar, and many other products. Enormous Wastage Wastage of sacks and bags in New Zealand has been enormous .in the past. Each year. thousands are destroyed’ by careless handling and neglect. Most of these, if given considerate treatment, would, remain ’serviceable for a long time. It is obvious that, if wastage is reduced and as ‘many sacks as possible ■ are kept in service, the quantities of new sacks required will be considerably lower. As one of the chief causes of deterioration of sacks is dampness, all goods received in sacks should be stored in a dry place. When a sack is being opened with a knife care should be taken to avoid cutting the. sacking. After the sack has been emptied it should be shaken thoroughly. Empty sacks that are dry should be stored in heaps. The farmer should not wait for a large quantity of sacks’ to accumulate, but should consign his surplus sacks to dealers at regular intervals. In addition to being , kept out of service, sacks lying in sheds are subject to damage by rats, mice, and other pests. Ways of Meeting Shortage All farmers and other users of. sacks and' bags are asked to help meet. the expected shortage by: 1. Saving every one worth repairing. 2. Consigning or delivering their sacks to the nearest or usual depot. Dealers are ‘"'prepared to pay fair prices for sound sacks, but it is useless sending them wet, rotting sacks, or those badly damaged by the acid in straight superphosphate. The . name and address of the sender should be , attached to bundles consigned by rail.

3. Conserving sacks by storing them in a, dry place, and emptying super- ; phosphate bags as soon as possible. 4. Making all sacks last as long as possible by careful handling. 5. Checking up on . all likely places on the farm where sacks may have been stored, or dumped and clearing air repairable ones to dealers. This ■ will add -to the number available at present and will prevent waste. By giving their closest attention to this appeal, farmers will not only benefit financially from res. turning sound sacks, but will be performing a service to the whole industry.