CORN AVERAGES 353 



In 1891 Mr. More, having obtained a good place in the 

 ballot, introduced a fresh Bill dealing with corn sales. At the 

 request of the Council this was referred to a fresh Select Com- 

 mittee, which sat in 1891, was re-appointed for 1892 and 

 again in 1893, during which time several of the Chamber's 

 witnesses were heard. They eventually reported in favour 

 of the sale of corn by weight, that that weight should be the 

 hundredweight of 112 lb., and that no other weight or measure 

 of capacity should be referred to in any sale. In June of 1893 

 the Council expressed great satisfaction at this report of the 

 Select Committee, and sent a deputation to wait upon the 

 President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Mundella) in December 

 to ask him to give effect to the recommendations contained 

 in it. Mr. Mundella confined himself to promising to consider 

 the views laid before him, and to consult with the President 

 of the Board of Agriculture. 



In 1897 Mr. Rankin again introduced his Corn Sales Bill, 

 and a resolution approving it was passed by the Council in 

 April. Having no place, this Bill was dropped. Mr. Rankin 

 re -introduced it in 1898, and it came on for second reading. 

 Mr. Abel H. Smith moved the rejection of the Bill, and Mr. 

 Walter Long, while admitting that the question of weights 

 and measures needed reform, said that the proposal to make 

 the 1121b. hundredweight the unit met with so much oppo- 

 sition that he hoped the motion would not be pressed. The 

 Bill was rejected by 150 votes to 76. In March this year a 

 deputation from the Council met Mr. Walter Long, who said 

 that, in the abstract, he agreed with their views, but that he 

 did not think the question was ripe for legislation. From the 

 debates which took place in the Chamber's meetings, it is evident 

 that there was considerable difference of opinion on several 

 points of detail. In 1900 the Council resolved that the publi- 

 cation of the highest and lowest prices of grain, in addition to 

 the summaries then made in the weekly returns, would confer 

 a great benefit on agriculturists. Since that date the subject 

 has not been before the Council, except indirectly, as part of 

 the question of weights and measures. 



