SUPPLIES TO OHAKEA

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 119, 13 February 1941, Page 12

SUPPLIES TO OHAKEA

Manawatu Tramway Not Used MINISTER’S EX PLAN ATION CAUSES SURPRISE Dominion Special Service. SANSON, February 12. Soon after more stringent petrol rationing was introduced, the Manawatu County Council protested against the employment of road transport to convey supplies to Ohakea aerodrome, while the council’s tramway, which had been specially strengthened to permit of the transport of heavy steelwork to the aerodrome, was ignored. The council raised the question on several occasions last year and at its meeting yesterday received a reply to its representations from the Minister of Transport. The Air Department was very anxious to make use of the council’s tramway for the transport of supplies to Ohakea. aud the question was fully discussed with a representative of the council, stated the letter. The tramway was usqd for a short while, but it was soon found that this method of transport was very much slower and considerably more expensive than the alternative methods available—by rail to Palmerston North or Greatford, and thence by road to Ohakea. with a view to speeding up the service and effecting some reduction in the cost of transport,' the Air Department offered to supply and operate its own Diesel locomotive and pay a charge for the use of the tramway. This offer, the Minister understood, had been refused by the couM cil, and the Air Department had IR| option but to arrange for the transport or petrol and other supplies from Greatford or Palmerston North. Councillors expressed surprise at the contents of the letter, which the county clerk Mr. A. K. Drew, said were news to him. ’ “We asked the Air Force people to put their proposals in writing in order that they might be placed before, the council, but nothing happened,” he said. “We have never received any letter. The statement that -they consulted us on several occasions on the question of transport is incorrect. We had only one conference, and it was at that conference that the Air Force people made the proposals which we asked be reduced to writing for submission to the council. That was never done, and, in fact, we have not heard anything further till the receipt of this letter.” The chairman, Cr. W. E. Barber, suggested that the county clerk be authorized to draft a suitable reply to the Minister’s letter, and this the council agreed to.