AN IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN DECISION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 9

AN IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN DECISION.

THE 200U5 BAG DECIDED ON. It has been definitely - decided by the Federal Minister of Trades and Customs (Mr Chapman) "to limit the size of corn- ' eack-r to a 2001b capacity. The exact width and depth of bags that will be permitted for fKe export of wheat will shortly be gazetted. ' That size will be the standard, and will henceforth be the only recognised and legal standard cornsack throughout the Commonwealth. Absolute prohibition of the iaiNportation of sacks- in excess of the fixed ; standard size has been decided upon. It is not intended to apply - the- new regulations to bags, already ordered or at present • filled or being filled with this season's crop of grain --In order that the change may be gradually introduced and due notice ' given to all interested, the alteration will not come into force until April 1, 1908. It is contended by the wheat growers that * the reduction in. the size of sacks will result in considerable loes and inconvenience, particularly for the first year. On the other* hand, the nse of the smaller sacksfought to result in. a ; great- paying in the I grain that under " "the existing - size is wasted. Heavy sacks are often torn during the repeated handlings necessary. The waste o£ grain from this source is enor(mous, and it must he at the ejw«ase ri the

' growers. Buyers, who know the extent of the lose, make provision for it when purchasing-. Wheat" on an average is worth a halfpenny per poundi which iy equivalent to 2s 6d per bushel. A rent in a large sack of wheat, unavoidably caused by the hooks used By the workmen, soon permits several pounds of grain to be lost in the trucks^ on the wharves, and in the' ships' holds. Gxowersv should view this 1 position from- this standpoint. It is probable, therefore^ that what may he lost the first year by the alteration in the size of the sac-ks. will be more than compensated for by the saving in the waste of " grain by the use- of smaller trucks. The eifeet of the reduction, in size ol pornsacks will perhaps hasten the introduction of the system 1 of handling grain for export in bulk. That system is in general use in the United States and 1 Canada, and as it greatly reduces the co3t of handling grain, the- adoption in the Commonwealth is onlj a matter oi time.