IMPENDING SHORTAGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 50, 15 November 1946, Page 7

IMPENDING SHORTAGE

SAVE EVERY SACK

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. Although through the war years supplies of new sacks were naturally not as plentiful as in normal times, present indications are that the world shortage of jute will be-

come more acute next year. The primary cause is that India, the only country that produces jute for export, to avert starvation among her population has been compelled for the last 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£ million bales compared with 8 million bales in 1945, and world demand has risen considerably as the result of liberated countries needing large quantities. v The Indian Government has allotted. an annual quota of jute to all countries requiring it. With the increases in production in New Zealand expected in 1947 in industries using sacks, woolpacks, hessian, canvas, jute yarn and, raw jute, the quota allocated to the Dominion is so, short of the estimated requirements that it appears certain that a shortage cannot be obviated. Whether the shortage is slight or serious will hinge on the attention given by producers to the care and safeguarding of sacks already in use.

Extensive Use in New Zealand The extent to which New Zealand’s industries, the primary industries in particular, rely on jute containers is possibly not generally realised. Estimates of the quantities required for 1947 include: One million woolpacks, four million grain and seed sacks, eight million .fertiliser bags, seven million lime bags, and four million cement bags. Additional supplies are needed for bagging flour, bran, pollard, potatoes, onions, oysters, maize, poultry mashes, meat meals, freezing works products, vegetables, sugar and many other products. Wastage Enormous

Wastage of sacks and bags in New Zealand has in the past been enormous. Each year thousands are de-' stroyed through 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 can be considerably reduced.

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 putting cuts in the sacking.' After the sack is, emptied it should be shaken thoroughly. Empty sacks that are dry should be stored in heaps. The farmer should not wait for a large qantity of sacks to accumulate, but should consign his surplus sacks to dealers-at regular internals. In addition to being kept out of service, sacks lying in sheds are invariably damaged 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 superphosphate 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 as many repairable ones as possible to dealers. This will materially assist in adding to the number available at present and will prevent waste.

In giving their closest attention to this appeal farmers will not only benefit financially from returning sound sacks but will be performing a service Ao the whole industry.