RAILWAY WAGONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26078, 15 February 1946, Page 4

RAILWAY WAGONS

SUPPLY TOTALLY INADEQUATE SERIOUS OUTLOOK FOR STOCK (P.A.) HASTINGS, Feb. 14. Grave concern over the lack of adequate railway wagons to remove livestock from areas of Hawke’s Bay where fodder supplies and water are desperately short was expressed by speakers at a meeting of the Provincial Executive of the Federated Farmers. The Minister of Railways (Mr R. Semple) is to be telegraphed urgently and asked for a thorough investigation and a frank statement on the situation. There was a number of outside buyers present at the Waipukurau ewe fair this week, but they were afraid to operate in the market because of the trucks available being totally inadequate, said one speaker. There were 32,000 sheep in the sale, and only 70 trucks were available to handle them. For the quality of sheep offering at the ewe fair it was not right that farmers should be asked to accept the ridiculously low prices which were paid, said Mr H. R. Gilbertson. He thought the coal shortage had a good deal to do with the position, although he admitted there was a shortage of rolling stock. “ This district is in a tragic position. Many thousands of animals will die unless the situation is met urgently,” Mr Gilbertson added. ‘‘The buyers are there but the sheep cannot be moved. We should ask for an immediate and thorough investigation.” Mr J H. Winter said the situation which had developed threatened the national income. There was also the important angle of cruelty to animals through starvation, which no farmer liked to see.