LACK OF GRAIN TRANSPORT

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23661, 11 June 1942, Page 6

LACK OF GRAIN TRANSPORT

PRODUCTION COUNCIL’S DISCUSSION Statements that grain had been damaged through lack of transport, made at the annual conference of the North Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, were discussed at a meeting of the North Canterbury District Council of Primary Production yesterday. Mr A. H. Spratt referred to a statement by Mr A. M. Carpenter concerning a lack of labour, and said that this seemed to indicate a lack of co-ordination between the Manpower Committee and the Army. The council should look into the matter.

The chairman (Mr R. T. McMillan) said that things were not as bad as they were painted. More than one statement about grain being damaged through lack of transport was made at the conference. The Wheat and Flour Controller (Mr R. McPherson) said the statement made by Mr Carpenter was that a farmer with 900 acres had two tractors and a team standing idle because he could not get sufficient labour. This statement was a matter of concern to him, and he had taken it up with the National Service Department. The department had made a report which indicated that there were no grounds for Mr Carpenter’s statement.

Mr McPherson quoted from the report, which stated that when interviewed about his statement at the conference, Mr Carpenter was not able to give the name of any farmer short of labour, and could not disclose the name of the particular farmer. If Mr Carpenter could give the names of farmers in difficulty with labour the matter would receive the urgent attention of the Manpower Committee and the Army. There were still a number of first-class tractor drivers and teamsters who had volunteered for the work from military service. They would be ready to start within three days.