TRANSPORT OF LIME

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 134, 18 March 1948, Page 4

TRANSPORT OF LIME

STATEMENT BY FEDERATED FARMERS As is common with any neAV scheme governed by regulations, full understanding of the Lime Transport Assistance plan appears to be lacking. Federated Farmers, at head office in Wellington, is continually receiving queries from farmers, many of whom have a wrong conception of the details involved, says a statement just issued.

The Avhole scheme is being administered by the Department of Agriculture, the Federation explains. No cash alloAvances are made, but the Department pays tlie concessions to the Lime Suppliers and to the Railways Department. They in turn, make corresponding credits to farmers for both the rail concession and road allowances. Instead, therefore, of making claims, farmers furnish special cartage declarations to tlieir lime suppliers. In the case of road deliveries only, the credit is shown on the farmer’s invoice, and lie pays only the net amount.. Once a farmer files a declaration Avith his supplier, that form stands for all future ♦orders. No further declarations are necessary.

Taa'o declarations, both perfectly simple are available. No. lis for cases in which road delivery folloAVs rail transport, and No. 2 is for cases in which delivery is by road only. In the case of a farmer carting his OAVii lime by road, he receives the usual credit of 4d a ton mile after the first three miles. That credit is shown on his invoice. In other Avords he is treated the same as an ordinary carrier.

The scheme came into operation on January 5 last. For deliveries on and after November 24, until the crediting system became operative by all lime suppliers, farmers were charged in full. They will, however, receive remittances equal to the rail concessions and road allowances, if they have not already done so. Where lime spreading contractors also conduct a delivery service, lime suppliers are authorised to rail lime to them at the Lime Transport Assistance rates. The contractors then grant the farmers the road allowance which they would have been entitled to they been the consignees of the lime instead of the contractors. The farmer must complete the No. 1 declaration and give it to the contractor at the time when arrangements are made to carry out the work. The contractor claims from the Department of Agriculture for the' allowance which he grants on his invoices to farmers.