CARTAGE OF LINEN FLAX

Southland Times, Issue 24687, 7 March 1942, Page 6

CARTAGE OF LINEN FLAX

REPRESENTATIONS MADE

BY

MR DENHAM

Representations were recently made to the Minister of Agriculture by Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P., with a view to expediting the cartage of linen flax from the farms to the factory. A reply has been received from the Director-General of Agriculture to the effect that farmers may use their own trucks to carry the flax from their farms to the factory on condition that they take out a heavy traffic licence for* the period of time involved. The quarterly licence fee for a 2J-ton truck used by farmers is 15/- and any farmer carting his own flax to the factory must have first of all secured the approval of the factory manager. Mr Denham points out that while this concession is not all that he has been seeking, he believes that it will help to remove some of the disabilities which tend to hamper the transportation of linen flax from the farm to the factory for treatment. Yesterday Mr Denham sent the following telegram to the Minister: “The decision to allow farmers to cart their own flax from farm to factory is helpful. The situation, however, has not been fully met. I strongly urge that the factory staff be allowed to cart from the stook where the factory manager approves. This will facilitate harvesting work, which is so vitally essential.” Mr L. C. Vickery, manager of the Winton linen flax factory, stated that tire recent heavy winds had not damaged the crop, which would be much better than last year’s. The farmers should do well this year, rejections being very small. About 600 acres had been pulled and a considerable quantity had been stacked.