New Britain herald., 1919-07-16
GR0CERS D|SCLAIM
 RESPONSIBILITY
lnSinuate That Conditions "Hi9her
 Up" Cause Lack Of Sugar

The secretary of the New Britain Butchers and Groccrs association has authorized the following statement relative to the sugar shortage in this city, disclaiming any responsibility for the dearth of this commodity:
 Tt is not doubted that this country is not threatened with a sugar short age in general but the fact remains that there is and has been d sugar shortage in New Britain and nearby cities for the past six weeks.
 '"The Butchers and Grocers' Re- tail association voted not to increase the price of sugar regardless how great the shortage. Stores giving full service as telephone, delivery, credit, etc, can sell at Il cents while cash and carry stores should sell at 10 cents per pound. This price gives a working profit for the stores who close on Sundays and work the regu- lar working schedule voted for by the chamber of commerce.
 '"The New Britain Butchers and Grocers' association has several cars of sugar purchased for the past six weeks but as they have not been de- livered there is a shortage. The whole SalerS of New Britain, PlainVille, Meriden and Hartford, all report that they have been unable to get sugar orders filled five or six weeks over due. The above are the conditions and does not in any way point to the retailers but some condition higher up. What is it?
 Tt does look as though the export of sugar not only makes a short age but keeps the price of sugar high"
 Weights and Measures Conference.
 Late in April I received a call from the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D. C., to attend the an nual conference on weights and meas ures, May 21-24 inclusive. As it was too late to lay this matter before your honorable body, at the April meeting, I consulted his honor, the mayor and the president pro tenn. of the council, and on their advice, I attended said conference.
 The conference was held at the Blu reau of Standards. Over three hum dred delegates from all over the country were present.
 The object of this conference is to secure uniform legislation and in forcements of weight and measure laws throughout the country I will not attempt to give detailed report about the proceedings of the cOnven- ton, but 1 will mention d few of what 1 consider the most important decisions
 The net weight laws as it applies to hams and bacons; as the law now stands, wrapped meats are not con- sidercd ''FOOd in package fOrm.' The buyer of a wrapped ham pays the same price per pound for the heavy paper wrapped around the ham, as for the article itself. Anyone can see the injustice of this A resolution was adopted asking the department of commerce to make a ruling that these packages be considered "Food in package form," and should be sold by net weights If necessary, this matter will be brought before con- gross.
 The gasoline pump was another very important item discussed by the conference. A rigid set of specitica- tions were drawn up by the Bureau of Standards and adopted by this conference.
 A resolution was adopted urging congress to standardize flour and meal containers. Flour is now usual ly sold in barrels weighing 196 pounds, and ub-diviSOns thereof, namely 98, 49, 24 1-2 and 12 IA pounds In some states, 96, AS, "A, and 12 pound packages are sold. This is very confusing to the consumer As proposed by the conference, pack ages should be standardized as fol- lows: One barrel 200 pounds, 1-2 barel, 100 pounds, IA barrel, 50 pounds, IS barrel, 25 pounds and smaller packages, 10, 5, i, ?, and 1 pounds.