4000 TARPAULINS MISSING

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22437, 25 June 1938, Page 16

4000 TARPAULINS MISSING

RAILWAYS’ REPLY TO FARMERS’ ' COMPLAINT (PBKSS ASSOCIATION TELEOBAM.) NEW PLYMOUTH, June 24The serious effect on farmers of delays in the delivery of fertilisers through a lack of railway trucks and tarpaulins was complained of by the National Dairy Conference at New Plymouth to-day. Representations are to be made to the Government on the matter.

The case for the railways was put by Mr A. W. Wellstead, commercial manager, who pointed to the huge increase in the quantity of fertilisers carried. The 1938 figure of 758,000 tons was an increase of 258 per cent, on 1934. The heavy arrival of overseas shipments at the main ports also affected delivery by tying up trucks. The position was made worse by the fact that more than half the trade concentrated on the four autumn months. He claimed that delay by farmers in unloading waggons was the cause of much of the trouble. The department was handicapped in building new waggons, but last year 500 were built at a cost of £170,000. This year it was proposed to build 1200. The department was prepared to spend money to keep the wheels of industry turning. In referring to tarpaulins, he said that a recent stocktaking showed that 4000 had disappeared.