TRUCK SHORTAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22960, 11 February 1938, Page 10

TRUCK SHORTAGE

FERTILISER PROBLEM FARMERS- SUPPLIES DELAY IN TRANSPORT A SERIOUS OUTLOOK Shortage of railway trucks to handle basic slag and other fertilisers which have already reached Auckland, and other shipments due to arrive shortly, was the subject of comment by Mr. E. W. Yates, chairman of the Auckland Fertiliser Merchants' Association, yesterday. He said the position was even worse than that of last year, when many hundreds of pounds were paid in demurrage to the Auckland Harbour Board, which added to the cost of the fertiliser to the farmer.

A telegram on behalf of the association was sent to the Minister oi I?ailways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, yesterday. It stated that Auckland transport facilities for the fertiliser industry were inadequate, the railway being unable to cope with the first autumn arrivals of basic slag and other fertilisers. A later shipment was arriving, and the position \vas rapidly becoming worse. Importers asked that the Minister should give the matter his urgent attention, by diverting waggons and covers to Auckland.

Not a New Trouble "This is the third year in which the trouble has been exceptionally bad, because trucks are wearing out and are not being replaced by the Railway Department," Mr. Yates said. He added that in spite of a statement by the Minister last July that the department was doing everything in its power to meet the transport requirements of the fertiliser industry, slag and other fertilisers were piling up on the Auckland wharves, incurring charges. Rolling Stock Essential

"The farmer is waiting for the fertiliser, hut cannot get delivery because of shortage of trucks and tarpaulins," he continued. "Because of this shortage, merchants' staffs and carriers had to work last Saturday afternoon to load what trucks were available. In the interests of the farmers, the merchants and the whole country, it is essential that more rolling stock should be provided without delay.

"In some directions it is thought that this is a seasonal difficulty, arising in the autumn, but in the August-No-vember period last year merchants brought in considerable quantities of fertiliser to ease the autumn position. Even then trucks were short, and demurrage charges were incurred. This position should not apply, because the coalmines are slacker than usual, working only one or two days a week." '