TRUCK SHORTAGE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17064, 8 February 1921, Page 6

TRUCK SHORTAGE.

AN ACUTE POSITION. From the point of view of the farmer the. position at present regarding the shortage of railway trucks haa become acute, and unless substantial relief is provided soon a very serious state of affairs will develop. Threshing operations are in full swing in many districts, and within the next w/sek or so large quantities of wheat will be awaiting at country stations for transit to the city. In respect of stations within a fairly reasonable distance of Christchuroh, it is possible that the difficulty caused by inability to get trucks may be overcome by transporting tho wheat to town by traction, enfine, which, in some instances, would e a cheaper method than forwarding it by rail. The railway traffic authorities at Christchuroh when asked for a statement regarding the position, admitted that there had been serious difficulty in supplying the shipping with all the waggons wanted, but the Department had done, and was doing, ita best to provide them. The shipping at present at Lyttelton, it was , pointed out, was abnormal, and the railway, authorities anticipated that the truck position would become easier from the present onward, as the demands made toy the shipping were met, The fact that one half of the new goods shed had been available for storage of goods held in trucks had helped, somewhat, and would have helped more but for the inrush of fresh cargoes of goods. The number of trucks on sidings loaded with goods was being reduced, but, owing to tho new shipments of goods coming to hand) not so rapidly as was hoped. The other half of the new shed would be available, it was expected, for tho storage of goods in two or three weeks, and this ywould give material assistance in releasing trucks, especially if, in tho meantime, shipping requirements became normal. It was stated that just at present, _in addition to the heavy demands being made by the shipping, farmers were calling upon the Department to supply trucks to bring wool to town for the wool sale next week.