ROAD TRANSPORT OF STOCK

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28314, 27 June 1957, Page 3

ROAD TRANSPORT OF STOCK

Limit Extension Sought

A Darfield farmer, who had 21 out of a mob of 91 lambs die from pneumonia after they were carried by rail from the Culverden store sheep sale in February, has claimed that had road transport been available he would have had the lambs on his property the same day as the sale—instead of two days later —and would have lost none of them.

After hearing the complaint, in a letter from the secretary of the Darfield branch (Mr A. G. Hart), North Canterbury Federated Farmers decided yesterday to forward a recommendation to the Dominion Council seeking for road operators the right to operate up to 100 miles.

His branch’s member bought the 91 ewe lambs at Culverden on February 19 this year (they had been delivered to the yards the day before), said Mr Hart. Heavy Rain

“Rain fell heavily during the sale. The lambs were trucked at Culverden on February 20 and arrived at the Aylesbury railway station at 11 a.m. on February 21. , “The next day the lambs started to die of pneumonia,” said Mr Hart. “With good management, the farmer finally cured the pneumonia, but not before 21 had died.”

A Darfield remit that operators be allowed to truck stock up to 100 miles “during the ewe fair season” was withdrawn in favour of the broader motion.

Rejecting a suggestion that the recommendation be sent to transport licensing committees, the meeting voted to forward it to the Dominion Council for the attention of its transport committee.

Other allegations of railway waggon shortages, and consequent delays in the shipping of cattle by rail, were referred to the provincial transport committee for investigation and report.