Abstract: A material feed control mechanism for a wood or brush chipper having an upright stop gate vertically movable to a material obstructing position extended transversely across and within the feed housing, and forwardly of the cutter to a material non-obstructing position projected upwardly from the housing. A latch assembly for releasably holding the stop gate in the material non-obstructing position associated with a release mechanism actuated by a lever system operable independently by any one of a plurality of handles one of which is arranged forwardly of the feed housing and a pair of which are located at opposite sides of the feed housing, to permit the fall of the gate to the material obstructing position therefor.