TRUCK SHORTAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24824, 22 February 1944, Page 4

TRUCK SHORTAGE

FERTILISER DELAYED

PROBLEM FOR THE FARMER Owing to an inadequate supply of railway trucks the three large fertiliser companies in Auckland are able to deliver only half their allocated quota, [n some cases firms are still working on December orders. Even when the fail ration of. fertiliser is available, farmers contend that it is insufficient to meet their requirements and with only ria.r this coming forward the position is mo*t acute, particularly in view of the present decline in dairy production. One large Auckland fertiliser company is limited to 20 trucks a day, which enables it to despatch only 40UO tons of fertiliser a month, while its normal deliveries are 9000 tons, which is the company's quota. Seriousness oi Position.

The position is stated to be so acute that it is not known when many farmers will obtain deliveries of their autumn manure. Orders are about two months behind, although at this time last year deliveries were fairly well up to date. It also is stated that the company is finding it most difficult to obtain supplies of serpentine rock, although the material is stacked up at the various works awaiting railage. The other firms are in the.same position and have had to explain to their clients that the delivery of much-needed fertilisers has been delayed to the shortage of railway trucks. The opinion was expressed that as the^ farmer is working on a bare rationed minimum the least that could have been expected was that every effort would have been made to see that he obtained it without delay. Need Never More Urgent

Shortage of manpower was another difficulty, but it was useless complaining about this until more trucks were available. When that position arose it was hoped that some provision could be made for the necessary labour. Farming interests are most perturbed at this latest difficulty in *the way of maintaining production. It is pointed out that while this is not the first occasion on which railway trucks have been in short supply, the need for fertiliser was never more urgent. Strong opinions have been expressed by farmers, who point out that it is a small thing to ask that fertilisers should be given preference over certain classes of goods which are being carried on the railways, as, no doubt, many are not required so urgently as manure.