The Native Cream Truck Again

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 6, 13 November 1931, Page 1

The Native Cream Truck Again

Cutting Up the Road Before the commencement of the ordinary business of the County Council on Friday, Mr. J. McEnnis, District Engineer, asked permission for “Aupouri,” the heavy Graham truck used in carting cream from the Te Kao native settlement to the factory to run on the unmetalled road during the summer months to February 28. There would be no excessive damage then. The Council received the request somewhat dubiously. Cr. Wrathall said the request was a hardy annual. The “Aupouri” had already done £IOO worth of damage to the road by taking- a load of 37 footballers to a match. Could not the Dairy Company put two trucks on the run and conserve the road. Cr. Berghan said the “Aupouri” should not be allowed on the road at all, and Cr. Matthews demanded a definite guarantee that any damage done by the truck to the road should be made good. Mr. M. R. Findlay, Supervisor of Native Land Settlements, who supported the request, explained the position. The road, he thought, was the worst road in New Zealand ; it was so bad that no tenders had been received for the run and the natives were not only obliged to do their own cream carting but transport the cream of white settlers as well. The increase in the cream production had been so great that their Ford truck could not handle it, and that forced them to use the heavy truck in the flush of the season. He would give them a definite assurance that the heavy truck would not run when it would damage the road. He tactfully reminded the Council that Native Dept, money had been spent on the road. After further discussion the Council decided to give the required permission to run till the 28th February, with the provision that “in the event of exceptionally wet weather the truck be taken off and a lighter one used in its stead.”