SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26078, 15 February 1946, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS

TRANSPORT OF FERTILISER FARM OPERATIONS HELD UP \ ■?' Concern regarding the acute shortage of railway trucks for transporting lime and fertiliser required by the farmers was expressed at a meeting of representatives of primary production councils, lime companies,' and merchants throughout Otago and Southland which was held at Gore recently. The evidence placed before the meeting showed that the erratic supply of trucks and the inability to secure a sufficient number of trucks meant that the works could not fully employ the labour available. During the rush period in October, November, and December, it was stated, farmers’ operations were seriously held up because of delays in deliveries of fertiliser. Frequently, too, the fertiliser works were standing idle because of a shortage of trucks. The same position applied to the lime company’s works. ' . , One speaker said that he had noticed a report in the press recently that approximately 1000 wagons were out of action in the South Island awaiting repairs. When a senior railway officer had been interrogated, he had admitted that this statement was pfobably very near the mark. In view of the fact that reports from time to time indicated that some of the departments in Hillside Workshop' were not in full operation, the meeting expressed the opinion that strong recommendations should be made by merchants, lime companies, primary production councils, and other farming organisations to the Government with a view to having the necessary repair to trucks placed on a priority basis and to increasing the existing supply by the construction of new trucks. A motion to this effect was carried unanimously by the meeting. - A motion was also carried, urging that the supply of truck covers should be increased at the earliest possible date.