FREE CARTAGE OF LIME CEASES MONDAY

Chronicle (Levin), 11 October 1947, Page 3

FREE CARTAGE OF LIME CEASES MONDAY

INVERCARGILL, Oct. 10. Aclvice .that the free railage of lime to farmers- — a privilege enjoved foi about 50 years — will be diseontinued frorn Moiiday, has been received by Southland lime conipanies. From that date railage will have to be paid by the farmers themselves. For the last half century the railage has been borne by the Department of Agriculture, a vote for that purpose haviiig been iueluded auuually iu the estiiuates of the department. ' ' The cancellation of the free railage of lime has come as a coniplete bombshell to the farmers of Southiaud, comiug as it does right iu the middle of the sowiug season," said Mr. W. Baird, president of the Southiaud provinciai executive of Federated Farmers. "It is indeed hard to uuderstand the attitude of the Goverument iu deciding to do this when it is urgiug farmers from oue end of the couutry to the other co produce every ouuce of food possible to aid Britaiu. I cau think of uothiug that will be a greater blow to production, especially iu Southiaud, thau caucelliug the free railage of lime. This is a privilege farmers have enjoved for about 5U years and it has play ed a rnajor pai't in tlie developiueut oi Southiaud. Indeed, it probably has been the greatest factor iu makiug tlns proviuce the euvy of the rest of New Zealand as far as" production is concerned. Buriug the war years aud siucc then, farmers have had to face up to ever iucreasing costs aud I believe this to be the greatest blow they have yet received."