SHEEP TRUCKS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 4

SHEEP TRUCKS.

: THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION. At tho last conforenco of tlio Formers' ■ Union a resolution was passed in regard ttf tho construction of sheep trucks and . of sheep and cattloyard.i at stations. Ths resolution wa3 forwarded to the Minister for Railways, who has replied to the union statins that all sheep trucks nro being fitted with grated floors, but the work has of necessity to bo carried out . gradually, as the wagons nro taken into the shops for repairs. As to tho suggestion that all snesp wagons should be provided with end-on door, the Minister says that some years, ago a number of t.ho wagons in use were provided with end doors, but it was found that in actual .practice tho doors wero o£ littlo service, .and considerable difficulty was exporiencpd •in loading tho trucks to their full capacity, the result being that it took more trucks t-i convey a given numbar of sftcen than ; . under tho present system. Tha Wellington and Manawatu Co. also had- end doors fitted to tho double-deckers, and the company's experience was eomewlbat similar ,to that of tho Dopartmcut.' Tho .fnd doors wero nltimatßly removed, and . view of the larjo expense that would bo • involved in providing such appliances aad in making tho necessary ; alterations, to tho stock yards, the Ministor regrots that ho rannot seo his way to ; comply with the union's request. Xs to "... ,tl» provision .of stock yards at stations, ! tho policy of tho Dopartmant is to pro- •'; vide standard' stock' yafda wherever tho traffio waiTants it, and a considerable sum is spent annually" tn improving yards of ■tho old typo. Roq nests, howovor, aro frequently mads for tho promion of ; etock yards at stations whero tho traffic is inconsiderable, and whore tho owners ; of stock aro alroady .irithin easy distance 'of stations fitted with up-to-dato yartls, ; and in some .eases, at the request of settlers themselves, yards of somewhat less than tho standard yards have been proi. :Tiucd.