COMMERCE IN MAIZE GRAIN 535 



It was agreed that a uniform system of grading be adopted for all South CHAP 

 Africa, and that the same official brand shall be adopted for the whole of the XII. 

 grading, with the name of the port through which the grain was shipped, added. 



It was also agreed there shall be six grades for South African maize, namely : 

 White, Ai and A2 ; Yellow, Ar and A2 ; and Mixed, Ai and A2 ; all falling 

 below these standards to be distinctly marked " Below grade ". 



Instead of having the words in full, it would be sufficient if the following 

 were adopted: Wi, W2 ; Yi, Y2 ; and Mi, M2, according as to whether the 

 maize is white, yellow, or mixed. 



It was agreed that stencils should be kept at stations, and consignors should 

 be required to mark bags W., Y., or M., as the case may be, to indicate descrip- 

 tion of maize brought for conveyance. This was to be a condition of forwarding, 

 and the lettering was to be in addition to the marks each bag must plainly bear 

 to identify the consignor thereof. 



It was agreed that maize below grade be stencilled, in bold type, " Below 

 grade," in a square with a diagonal bar across, beneath a crown, the interpreta- 

 tion being that the Government had handled the maize and declared it to be of 

 inferior quality. All maize sent to the port for export where the reduced rate 

 had been made applicable, should be shipped irrespective of quality, provided that 

 the bags had been passed through the hands of the grader. 



South African grade No. 1 would be considered as choice, and the grade No. 

 2 would be equivalent to what was considered in other places as F.A.Q. 



Graders should select standard samples for exhibition at all railway 

 stations for the information of farmers, and also the same standard should be 

 forwarded to the various corn exchanges of Europe, distinctly labelled, as what is 

 understood to be Standard No. 1 and Standard No. 2. 



It was unanimously agreed to record that some consideration should be re- 

 ceived from the Inland Administration for the services rendered in grading and 

 marking at the Cape ports and, presumably, also at the Port of Durban, but the 

 details of this shall be matter for discussion by correspondence and ultimate 

 settlement between the Governments concerned. 



Maize received in a weevily condition or showing the slightest sign of 

 weevil should be refused and isolated and the sending station telegraphed to for 

 instructions as to disposal, it being made a condition of acceptance of a consign- 

 ment from senders at reduced rates that the Administration is given the right to 

 dispose of weevily consignments of maize on account of whom it may concern, 

 without first waiting for the instructions of senders should the circumstances 

 indicate such a course to be expedient. In such a case, where the maize is dis- 

 posed of locally, the low railway rate would not apply. It is also to be a strict 

 instruction to the forwarding station staff that if any portion of a consignment of 

 maize shows the slightest sign of being affected by weevil the whole consign- 

 ment must not be accepted for export. Where weevils manifest themselves sub- 

 sequent to grading, the consignor shall have the benefit of the lower rate with the 

 exception of the rate for the portion of lines Ressano Garcia to Lourenco 

 Marques, over which section the ordinary rate will apply. 



13. To consider the measures to be taken to ensure the observance of the 

 agreement as to common standard of grading by all Administrations. 



Occasional samples are to be taken from the bags at each port and sent to 

 some central depot to be examined, such depot to be hereafter named by the 

 Agricultural Departments, and that the grading officers meet periodically to 

 exchange views, compare notes, and inspect these samples. 



14. Consideration of sea freight charges to be levied on grain when forwarded 

 for disposal through Administration, and when forwarded for disposal through 

 independent channels, and arrangements to be made in connection with any 

 difference. 



