CARTAGE OF FAT LAMBS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 23, 26 December 1944, Page 2

CARTAGE OF FAT LAMBS

APPEAL UPHELD

No. 2 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr P. J. Skogiund) has upheld the appeal of the fat lamb breeders in the Marton and Lower Rangitikei areas against the decision of the Manawatu Transport Control Committee not to amend its stock cartage code to enable these lambs to be transported to the Feikling freezing works by motorlorry. The decision is as follows: “That where the journey to the works docs r.ot involve running parallel with the railway for a greater distance than 20 miles fat lambs may be carried by lorry from farms in the Porewa, Alarton, and Turakina areas of Southern Rangitikei to the freezing works at Aorangi, Feilding. This authority is to expire on February 6, 1945. (Note: For the purpose of this rule it will be assumed in each ease that the lorry route makes contact with the rail at the leading station nearest to the drafting point.) For distances of over 20 miles parallel with the rail the stock code of October 25, 1944, is to stand.”

Strong recommendations were made by farmers who gave evidence before the No. 2 Road Transport Licensing Authority (Mr Skogiund) in Marton in regard to the transport of fat lambs to freezing works. They asked that there should be complete freedom from restriction in sending lambs to the works by tho quickest and shortest possible . method. It was considered that to avoid wastage wherever practicable, these lambs should be lorried and so save being Held over for a day before being killed. Those who gave evidence did so in support of appeals against recent decisions of the Manawatu and the Wanganui Rural Goods Transport Control Committees refusing applications by fat lamb breeders in tho Bulls, Greatford, Marton, Turakina, and Porewa areas for tho right to lorry their milk lambs direct to the freezing works at Feilding. That considerable interest was taken in the result of these appeals was apparent from the large number of farmers present at the hearing. Appellants based their appeals on the grounds that the decisions were .against the public interest and caused private hardship. Appellants stressed the necessity for complying with the urgent request of the British Government for the supply of every possible pound of meal. The New Zealand Government had done its best to give effect to this request by bringing cut an increased price schedule and urging greater weight. Appellants cmphasisod that at present they were forced to lorry their lambs to the railway and truck them to Feilding, resulting in a delay of up to 24 hours before these lambs reached the works.