The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-02 00:00:00

UNIFORM WEIGHT FOR THE SALE
OF GRAIN.

A meeting of persons connected with the corn
trade was held at the Liverpool Corn Exchange,
yesterday," to consider the adoption of one uniform
weight of 1001bs. for the sale of grain, flour, meal ;
and to make arrangements for carrying the same
into effect."

Mr. HUBBACK, of Liverpool, presided. He first ;
alluded to a meeting which was held at the Liver- I
pool Corn Exchange in September last, at which a
report of the sub-committee of the Liverpool Corn
Association was agreed to, pointing out the incon-
veniences of the present corn standards, and a re-
solution adopted in favour of a uniform standard of
1001bs. in weight. The report and resolution were
circulated with a view to obtain the opinion and
sanction of the trade generally, and the present
meeting was called in order to decide what future
action should be pursued.. For many years past
the -diversity- of the modes of selling corn and flour
had attracted general attention, and many efforts
had been made to bring about uniformity. The
necessity for a change was admitted by all, and the
present system was a disgrace to-the age. (Cheers.)
It was most puzzling even for an initiated person
like himself, looking over the newspaper reports of
the country markets, to calculate which was the
dearest and which was the cheapest. Having de-
scribed the three different modes by which corn
was sold in this country—first by measure alone,
second by weight alone, and third by measure
which must contain, or be made up to, a specified
weight—the chairman said that these three modes
varied considerably in different markets. Thus,
the sales at London and many other places were
per qr. of 8 imperial bushels; at Sheffreld and Don-
caster, per load of 3 imperial bushels ; Ulverstone
per load of 144 qrs. ; and at Newcastle, Plymouth,
Berwick, Carlisle, and other places, per boll, vary-
ing from 2 to 6 imperial bushels. The sales by
weight also varied from the bushel of 621bs. at Bir-
mingham, and 70 at Liverpool and Manchester to the
win dle of 2201bs at Preston, and the hobbett, 1681bs.
at Denbigh. The standard of measure had certain
advantages—for instance, the statistics of imports,
averages, commutation of tithes, and many corn
rates and freights were calculated by measure—but
there were very great objections against the system,
the most important of these being the uncertainty,
so much depending upon the skill and integrity of
the meter. (Hear.) The farmers were the greatest
sufferers by the measure standard. There were also
frequent disputes under the present system between
merchants and shipowners, and with. the Custom-
house. 'With regard to the statistics of imports,
and the other matters he had mentioned, the chair-
man suggested that in the event of a standard of
weight being adopted, all that would be required
would be by act of Parliament to state the weight,
per imperial bushel, and all the difficulty disap-
peared. It was not absolutely necessary (the chair-
man contended) to retain measure for the purpose
of maintaining a proper test of quality. He further
stated, that though many members of the corn trade
disapproved of the 1001bs. standard, the members
of the Liverpool Corn Association had become
unanimously in favour it. It was an approximation
to the decimal system, a system whose general
adption was but a question of time. Having argued
that half a loaf, in regard to reform, was better
than none, Mr. Hubback said that there never was
a better time than the present to introduce the
particular reform which he advocated. It was not
necessary to carry it out by act of Parliament, and
if a few large towns, such as Liverpool, Manchester,
and Glasgow, adopted it, otheri would follow.

• The SECRETARY (Mr. H. W. Banner) then read
communications from Mr. W. Jackson, M.P., apolo-
gising fe,. absence ; from the Leith Chamber of
Commerce, from a meeting of corn merchants at
Londonderry, and from others at Belfast and
Tralee, approving of the 1001bs. standard.
Mr. BROWN, M.P., read a communication which
he had just received, describing the interview which
a deputation of the Decimal Association held the
other day with Mr. Disraeli, who most cordially
entertained their proposals, and particularly pro-
posed a standard of 1001bs.
Mr. H. SEGAR, of Liverpool, then moved a reso-
lution to the effect that the existing variety in the
weights and measures for the sale of corn, &c.,
formed a serious obstruction to business, and were
wholly inconsistent with the spirit of the times.
Mr. BROCHNER, of Hull, seconded the resolution.
. Mr. TORR, of the Liverpool Chamber of Com_
merce, supported the resolution, weich was carried
unanimously.
Mr. BLAIR, of Liverpool, moved the second reso-
lution, to the effect that the substitution of an uni-
form weight of 100 lbs. was approved by the meeting.
Mr. LowE, of Glasgow, seconded the resolution.
Mr. OSBORNE, of Cork, moved an amendment that
a deputation be appointed to wait upon the Board
of Trade to explain the practical difficulties of the
corn trade arising from the variety of weights and
measures, and endeavour to obtain an assimilation
of the imperial bushel to the actual weight.
Mr. Brown, M.P., Mr. Gladstone, and Mr. Gian-
nacopulo, Greek Consul at Liverpool, supported the
resolution, and Mr. R. Woodward the amendment.
Upon a division the original motion was carried
almost unanimously.
Mr. REID moved, and Mr. EWING, of Glasgow,
seconded, a third resolution, recommending to the
trade in Liverpool and elsewhere, that after the Ist
of February next the weight of 1001bs. avoirdupois
be adopted in all sales of flour, grain, and meal.
Mr. /I- -C. CHAPMAN, of Live 001, drew atten-
tion is the fact that 100.1bs.'h rpad been already
adopted in Canada, where also the decimal system
of coina,ge had been recently introduced.
gr. CBATJEORA of Glasgow, moved, and Mr.

FRANGHIADI seconded, a fourth resolution, to the
effect that the new weight be termed the cental.
After a vote of thanks to the chair, the proceed-
ings closed.
Amongst those present tit the above meeting were
Mr. Ewing (Angus and Co.) ; Mr. Usborne, of
Cork ; Mr. J. M'Cann, M.P. ; Mr. J. Cranford (C.
Logan and Co.), of Glasgow ; G. Lowe (J. Wean),
of Glasgow ; C. Brochner, of Hull ; J. Bald, Swo-
dish Consul at Liverpool ; Giannaeopulo,
Greek Consul at Liverpool ; Mr. G. Wright
(Wright Brothers), of Hull ; Mr. W. Brown,M.P. ;
Mr. B. Moore, M.P. ; Messrs. Bushel, Gladstone,
Makin, Wilson, Segar, Dawson, and Groves of
Liverpool ; and Mr. J. Pim, of Liverpool.