The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. TUESDAY. MARCH 23, 1915. MATTER OUT OF PLACE

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 March 1915, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. TUESDAY. MARCH 23, 1915. MATTER OUT OF PLACE

Tlit' Kiglil Hon. AV. F. jlas&ey has assured the -Auckland Poultryfarmers' Association that bran and pollard are [plentiful in .New Zealand to-day. Perhaps lie is right. The bran i's plentiin! enough —in the pollard bags! —a.s all poultry-farmers know. and the time seems opportune lor the Government to exercise the powers conferred upon it by the Pure Foods Act and nr<le)- that millers shall not adulterate what i« technically termed the "offal" <)'■ their mills. Bran sold a.s bran realises from £1 to £1 Wa per ton less than pollard, and the inference as to why the pollard han so great an admixture of bran in the constituent parts of each bap; is too obvious to be misunderstood. Possibly the authorities will find a difficulty in outwitting those who practice this exploitation on purchasers of pollard, but there seem to be no insuperable difficulties in the way. -A lull sack of pollard weighs 2()0lbs. and the bulk of it is Icks when bran is reduced to a minimum ; therefore an exptert inspector should be able to ascertain beyond •doubt whether the contents of any bag wcr-> a.s free from make-hulk matter as the Gazette regulations would require. Another and perhaps a much easier lest to administer would be one based upon analysis. Tf the inspectors already holding office in terms of the Pure Fond Act were instructed to carry out this duty and suibmft samples to the Government Analyst there would be a flutter in some Canterbrny floirrmills. and a counter feeling of satisfaction amongst all buyers of wheat offals..

i l'.fu producers in this county in combination with those of the Manawutu and Rangitikei Counties, have protested to the Government against the price of meat having been fixed without consultation with them. Possibly they are justified in this, and also in their protest against being compelled to .sell to the freezing companies at Iho companies' own prices," but we : doubt if their dissatisfaction wfth j prices now obtaining for meat is reasonable. The war has made no difference in the price of grass, hay or root crop?; agricultural labour is no better paid so far as the indications go, and Hie master butchers of the towns and cities still protest that the greater the bulk of their retail trade the greater is their loss. Fat stock has dropped something in average price during the last six weeks, but the margin of profit to the sheep- and cattlefarmers is sufficient still. The war has placed disabilities and deterrents upon every claaa of the community, and there is need for restraint in resolutions of protest against hampering conditions in regard to trade consequent upon the war. The enthusiastic support of Great Britain's policy is commendable, but there should be evident as well a determination to give no unnecessary pin-pricks to those whoso duty it is to hold fairly the balance when the administration of the dominion affairs is the issue.