WEIGHT OF GRAIN SACKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2530, 17 June 1909, Page 3

WEIGHT OF GRAIN SACKS.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

[Puit Puiiss Association.j

WELLINGTON, June 14. A deputation, comprising Messrs Davey, Laurenson, Witty, Ell, Burton, Craigic, McLaren, Arnold, Glover, and Poole waited on the Minister for Railways to urge that the regulation under which sacks containing wheat, oats, or barley, exceeding 2321bs weight, are charged four times the ordinary freight should be extended to apply to other produce which lias to be handled by manual labor. Mr Laurenson informed the Minister that tlie president of the Stevedores’ Union in Lyttelton had given the following 'as the weight of sacks which the men at present were being compelled to handle: —Rye 250llis, peas 2561b5, beans 2521b5. clover seed 2721b5, maize 2241b5. The Hon. Mr Millar, after hearing further representations on the same lines, said that lie was not aware until being told on Saturday by Mr Witty- of what was going on in regard to other _ cereals than wheat, oats, and barley. Since the gazetting of tho regulations in regard to the latter,’ representations had been made to him to allow tho maximum weight to be increased to 2501b5, but he had opposed this step as being the thin edge of the wedge. His instructions to the Department had been to overlook cases in which the maximum .weight had been exceeded by onlv ilb or so, hut the penalty of fourfold freight had been inflicted where tho bags weighed 2601 b and 270 b. It was too late ‘this season to make the regulations apply to the other cereals naTned, hut tlie principle had been laid down, and he would at once take steps to collect full information.