FORAGE SUPPLIES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 10 September 1914, Page 8

FORAGE SUPPLIES

SPLENDID GDJTS BY FARMERS. TROOPSHIPS • AMPLY EQUIPPED. A SURPLUS OF 250 TONS. The New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Distributing Co., Ltd., with tho assistance of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union, undertook without charge- to handle the chaff, hay, etc., required for the troopships leaving Wellington. In conversation with tho manager (Mr. A. Leigh Hunt), a Po=t representative learned to-day that hia company was at the (outset authorised to purchaso tho supplies on behalf of 4 tho Defence Department. Within three .days all buying was stopped by the company, as it_ v/or evident that heavy donations ' **were being made. The position now is •that tho whole of this- forago supplied to tho troopßhios. Atlienic, Limerick, Orari, and Maunganui will'ibe without cost to the Government, as it is moi'e than covered by the donations that have come to hand, principally through tho various branches of the Isew Zealand Farmers' Union. Special mention is mado of a gift of 500 sacks chaff from the Maoris. Waitapu County, (lisborne, perMr, Wi Pepore. Some idea of tko magnificenco of tho gifts of -tlho farmers cam be gathered from tho fact that these four ships aro now fully loaded with over 2,oop,ooqib of chaff and hay of the best quality, in addition to other produce, tho total being over 900 tons^weight. Mr. Hunt states that thero is now in No. 3 Shed, King's Wharf, about 250 tons of produce not required for tho ships. This will shortly be sold by public auction, and a substantial cheque as a result will bo Font to the Prime Minister's War Fund. In this connection Mr. Hunt desires to ask horseowners to reserve their future buying pending tho holding of this sale so that every lot can bo cleared at fair prices, and the War Fund swelled to tho greatest extent. A largo number of branches of the Farmers Union assisted in procuring donations, but particular mention should | bo jgivpn to Wairaratia, from whenco the ' majority of tho gifts have come, also Blenheim and Hastings. • Tho handling of tho produce hai on- j tailed an immense amount of work 1 in the carrying out of which Mr. Leigh Hunt wishes to acknowledge the valu- ' ablo help of Mr. E. C Jack, Dominion Secretary, New Zealand Farmers* Union, also Mr. 11. G. Hill, manager, Bristol Dominion Produco Company, Capt. Bilton, Messrs*. Becker and Jones, of tho Harbour t-Boardt -Board staff, and Mr. Ray, of the Railway Department, t