FAT STOCK CARTAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22202, 20 February 1942, Page 4

FAT STOCK CARTAGE

Chaotic Conditions Denied REPLY TO TRANSPORT ALLIANCE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 19. “I am extremely surprised to learn,” said the Minister of Marketing (Hon. J. G. Barclay) to-night “That the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance consider I have been usurping the functions of the Minister of Transport. Whatever action has been taken by me as Minister of Marketing and Agriculture has been designed to ensure that conincident with the need to conserve petrol supplies to the maximum, servicing to the farming community should be placed on a rational basis to avoid the development of any chaotic conditions. “I am vitally concerned with collection and transport of fat stock and had petrol supplies been cut to the various organisations engaged in this work, without at the same time setting up an organised system, the results would have been disastrous to many sections of the farming community, particularly the small farmer, and the backblocks farmer. The Committees functioning at present under my supervision have control only over the transport of export fat stock, and in this connection have been very successful in their functioning. They have not only provided adequate service to the farming community, but have made some remarkable savings in petrol usage. The framing of the necessary organisation to deal with other classes of livestock is entirely in the hands of the Minister of Transport, and any suggestions I have made in this connection have been made through the Commissioner of Transport and in consultation with the president of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance.