FERTILISER SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23073, 25 June 1938, Page 17

FERTILISER SUPPLIES

DELAY IN DELIVERY SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS CASE FOR THE RAILWAYS > [by telegraph—press association] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday The serious effect on farmers of the. delay in the delivery of fertilisers owing to a lack of railway trucks and tarpaulins, was complained of by the National Dairy Conference at New Ply« mouth to-day. Representations are to be made to the Government on the matter.

The railways case was put by Mr. JL W. Wellsted. commercial manager,who pointed to the huge increase in the quantity of fertilisers carried in 1938. The figure of 758,000 tons was an increase of 258 per cent on 1934. The heavy arrival of overseas shipments at the main ports also had affected delivery by tying up trucks. The position was made worse by the fact that more than half the trade wa* concentrated on four autumn months. Mr. Wellstod claimed that delay by farmers in unloading waggons "was the cause of much of tpe trouble. The department was handicapped in building new waggons, but last year 500 were built at a cost of £170,000. This year it was proposed to build 1200. The department was prepared to spend money to keep the wheels of industry turning. In regard to tarpaulins, he said that a recent stocktaking showed that 4000 had disappeared. :