97 



bulk as do the elevators, instead of solving the sack prob- 

 lem complicates it. so that it' we solve one problem 

 tliat of storing our wheat -for Ihe moment, we have but 

 done so at the trouble of complicating another difficulty. 

 The sole possible solution lies in the building of eleva- 

 tors, whichever way we regard the matter. 



At the present price of sacks, the cost per cubic me- 

 tre of concrete construction actually works out less, that 

 is, it is cheaper to build a concrete storage place, such 

 as an elevator, than it is to buy sufficient sacks in which 

 to put a like quantity of grain .(and there are many sys- 

 tems of elevator construction cheaper than concrete). 

 It is not surprising that we hear that our farmers are 

 Avilling to sell at fift}^ per cent, below the official price, 

 provided they are freed from the task of providing sacks. 



It is useless to denounce the stupidity of the farm- 

 ers or the iniquity of such proceedings on the part of the 

 "aeopiadores" or "-rain buyers, and still less to at- 

 tempt to admonish speculators; the remedy lies in 

 abolishing a fictitious state of affairs under which 

 the whole sack trade flourishes . 



We have been treated to a whole series of denuncia- 

 tions this year, as every year, with the exception that 

 they have been more than ought else directed against 

 those who undertook the task themselves, not of ex- 

 ploiting the situation but to endeavour to ameliorate the 

 heavy charge to the farmer for his sacks: not against 

 the sack manufacturers, 'the customary victims of public 

 opinio"n, but against the Royal Wheat Commission. 



The fact that altruistic intentions have achieved 

 KO little towards solving our sack problem, have left it 

 where it generally is when the speculators have done 

 with it every year, ought to go a long way towards con- 

 vincing people that there is no solution possible at all as 

 matters stand. 



We must change our system altogether if we w T ant % 

 to make an end of the complaints of those who have no 

 bags, and need them, of those who have bags and don't 

 need them, of those who want to buy and can't and thost-? 

 who want to sell and can't each at his respective price, 

 of the eternal disorder buying and selling occasions, of 

 the speculation it engenders, and of the unending los- 

 ses it inflicts on all a^d sundry. 



ADDITIONAL LOSS FROM SELLING GRAIN IN 



SACK. 



To add to the long list of the difficulties which the 



