FODDER FOR THE NORTH

Evening Star, Issue 25750, 25 March 1946, Page 6

FODDER FOR THE NORTH

FAULTY PACKING OF BALES TEN PER CENT. OF CARGO A LOSS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 24.' An estimated loss of as much as 10 Eer cent, of the full cargo of baled av brought to Auckland from Dunedin and Timaru at the end of last week by the Union Company steamer Karetu is expected to result from the faulty packing of the bales and from handling during transit from the farm to the consignee. The Karetu made a special voyage with hay to assist in relieving the fodder shortage in the Auckland area, 24,000 bales being carried, most of them from Timaru.

Because of the shortage of baling wire, many of the bales were bound with twine, which proved a poor substitute in view of the repeated handlings en route. When the hatches were opened at Auckland and the discharge of the cargo began, it was found that many of the bales had already burst. The conditions caused by the loose hay and the dust in the confines of the holds were so poor for working that the watersiders -on the ship were granted an increase of 2d an hour as dirt money for handling the fodder., In the sheds at the Karetu's berth on Saturday, large piles of loose hay had been formed, and an inspection Showed that many of the intact bales were not in a good condition for further travelling. This was shown in Quay street, where streams of lorries carrying bales from the wharf left small heaps of hay in the roadway.