PETROL BEING WASTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 191, 15 August 1940, Page 6

PETROL BEING WASTED

MANAWATU COUNTY RAILWAY IGNORED TRANSPORT TO OHAKEA (Own Correspondent). SANDON, Aug. 13. The chairman of the Manawatu County Council, Mr. W. E. Barber, took strong exception at to-days meeting to the fact that materials for the two new hangars to be erected at th£ Ohakea Aerodrome were being transported by road instead of by ran. The chairman said that in spite of repeated requests by the Government on the urgent need for conserving petrol supplies, no apparent action had been taken to divert the transport of materials for Ohakea from the road to the rail. He -instanced the fact that certain steel work for the two new hangars was being made in Wellington and being sent by rail to Palmerston North and then by road to Ohakea. This action completely ignored the existence of a railway service right to the aerodrome and seemingly ignored also the Government’s call for the conservation of petrol. If the rail was used much petrol could be saved. The chairman went on to refer to another case which concerned certain materials which came from Auckland for the aerodrome. These were railed from Auckland to Feilding, and then sent out by road transport, calling for the use of considerable quantities of petrol. Just why the materials were not sent to Palmerston North and then on by rail to Ohakea over the Sanson tramway system, Cr. Barber could not understand, nor 'could he appreciate how the Government allowed such a state of affairs to exist in face of its rationing of petrol. It was agreed to take the matter up with the Public Works Department.