HAY FOR AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24624, 21 July 1945, Page 3

HAY FOR AUSTRALIA

GOOD RESPONSE BY FARMERS Although the interruption to telephone communication and road and rail transport from country centres seriously held up the deliveries of hay for shipment to Australia, the close co-operation of the various interests involved reduced the delay to an extent that seemed impossible when the hard snow showed little signs of disappearing. The co-operation was effec-, tive enough for Ipading to continue, and the vessel will be able to leave Lyttelton early next week. Its destination has been diverted from Sydney to Melbourne and Adelaide, suggesting that feed conditions have eased to some extent in New South Wales. The Australian Government’s produce officer, Mr J. Byrne, who has been in Canterbury inspecting the hay offered to the Produce Merchants’ Association, expressed to “Straggler” yesterday his keen appreciation of the efforts farmers made Under the depressing and difficult conditions to get their hay to Lyttelton. He also spoke highly of the quality of the hay that he inspected. The standard had to be reduced a little in the meadow hay towards the end of the loading to replace lines that could not be got away from the farms and to other causes, but the whole consignment could be considered of high quality. The hay already loaded amounts to 68,000 odd bales, or approximately 2100 tons. At the moment it is not expected that consignments leaving growers’ stations after to-night (Saturday) will be in time for the boat, although it is possible that on Monday morning, when a survey of the total loadings will be made, there may be space for a few urgent loadings owing to stacks not opening up to the expected weight in some cases. The rejections in the earlier part of the loading, excepting one completely rejected truck lot, averaged only 2 per cent. This rose to 5 per cent, on truck toads held over the week-end because of the snow, but over the present week’s fine weather the proportion has come down to 1 per cent. This speaks highly for the care exercised by the transport services. A second vessel is scheduled to lift another consignment early in September. ■ i