HAULAGE OF WOOL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22438, 19 September 1947, Page 4

HAULAGE OF WOOL

OPERATORS LIMITED BRIDGES INADEQUATE REGIONAL COUNCIL TASK Efforts to get bridges in the Gisborne and East Coast districts improved and strengthened to enable them to carry heavy loads associated with the transport of wool to the new wool sale centre in Gisborne are to be made through the Gisborne-East Coast Regional Planning Council, according to a decision reached yesterday at the meeting of the Grsporne Provincial executive of Federated Farmers. Mr. W. F. Metcalfe said there were only two courses open to transport operators in the district —to make the farmer pay more, or to carry heavier loads. Before the heavier loads could bi carried it would be necessary to have the highway bridges strengthened. At present wool haulage was not payable to the operator. If no action were taken by the Main Highways Board the farmers would have to pay more for haulage. Restricted by Bridge Limits The secretary, Mr. A. J. Stock, said that although the roads were classified for a heavier weight operators were restricted in their loads by the 10-ton limit on many of the bridges. Mr. D. W. W. Williams said he had reason to believe that the Main Highways Board was well aware of the inadequacy of the bridges, but the material was not available for strengthening. Mr. Metcalfe said it was a long-term policy he was driving at. The board had agreed to renew the wooden Hikuwai bridges for the past 15 years, but nothing had been done. It would be necessary for the regional council to take the matter up and renew its efforts from time to time to keep the matter well to the forefront. “Nothing has been spent on railways in that district and we are entitled to something in the way of roads," he concluded.