FREE RAILAGE REFUSED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19701, 5 August 1938, Page 12

FREE RAILAGE REFUSED

FOWLS FOR HAWKE'S BAY REPLACING LOSSES POULTRYMEN INDIG X ANT (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Poultry farmers throughout the Dominion are stated to be indignant because of the attitude of the Railways Department in refusing to grant free railage on live poultry forwarded to the Hawke's Bay districts to replenish the losses suffered by breeders and others, whose flocks were entirely, or partially, destroyed by the serious flooding last April. Poultry farmers of Hawke's Bay were heavy losers, but instead of appealing to the Government for assistance the industry decided to make good the losses by contributions of birds from poultry farmers in other parts of the Dominion. The position was investigated by the New Zealand Poultry Board and breeders unanimously decided to assist the Hawke's Bay farmers .An appeal launched throughout New Zealand received a ready response and the full requirements of Hawke's Bay, totalling hundreds of birds, were promised. The next step was to make arrangements for the fowls to be railed to the areas concerned, but when application for free railage was made to the Government through the Railways Department, the request was refused. In many cases the promised birds are young chickens and, it is understood that the refusal cf the Railways Department to grant free railage has caused a considerable amount of indignation among breeders, not because of the cost of railage, but because of the principle involved. Poultry keepers have stated that the cost of 'railing birds to Hawke's Bay is infinitesimal compared with the value of the birds and. in all, would not amount to more than a few pounds.