FARMERS' VIEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 198, 22 August 1942, Page 3

FARMERS' VIEWS

TRANSPORT AND PETROL

SHORTAGE OF BLACKSMITHS

At the last executive meeting of the Auckland Farmers' Union the recent formation of Transport Coordination Committees was discussed Regarding the regulations in general it was considered that the committees would in effect, be virtually carriers' committees. The inconveniences would fall upon the consumers of transport, the farmers, and the profits would go to the carriers.

The following remit from the Northern King Country was adopted for submission to the Dominion executive:—

That this meeting of the executive is gravely concerned at the personnel of the Transport Co-ordina-tion Committees, and in view of the fact that users are as vitally interested as carriers and even more so and just as patriotic, we request users' representation and voting power at least equal to that of road and other transport interests." A remit that there should be a further reduction in coupons for men's working trousers, working boots and socks, was agreed to for submission to the Dominion executive. The remit was from the Waihi branch.

It was pointed out that as gumboots were unprocurable, the need for working boots and trousers had become very much greater. In wet weather, with mud everywhere, a pair of new boots lasted only a few months at most. A reply from the Minister of National Service. Mr. Broadfoot, regarding the shortage of blacksmiths, which was brought before the notice of the Government by the union some months ago, * was received. The Minister stated that a recommendation be made to appeal boards to give specially sympathetic consideration to appeals for men whose services were essential to the farming community. He suggested that the executive might bring under the notice of appeal boards

cases where the release of blacksmiths or coach builders from camp greatly assist farmers. The question of selling hours for petrol was brought up in a remit from the Northern King Country It was pointed out that if a farmer could not reach the nearest store until a minute after 5 p.m. he could not obtain a drop of benzine without subjecting the storekeeper to a £50 fine. On Saturdays the closing time was noon. It was decided to request that benzine selling hours should not apply to country districts where local storekeepers were the sellers and were willing to supply the urgent needs of customers.