Farmers Ask For New Cars

Chronicle (Levin), 6 September 1949, Page 6

Farmers Ask For New Cars

Althougli primary produeei'41 providi the wherewithal for our overs^as ex change, they were not getting very inuch out of "it in the way of new rco tor cars, observed Mr C. Batley (Feild ing) at yesterday's meeting of the prJvincial dairy seetion of Federated lar mers held at Marton. The speaker quoted statistics covering car importation over the past few years and eommented that althougli the" value of primary exports had reached record figures, 111: portations of new cars showed a-down ward trend. He did not deny other in terests their rights over new cars b>n l'elt that tiiere ought to be some prioiity accorded farmers to enable them ti; replace their worn out essential meau of transport. Another speaker spoke of his car be ing of rather ancient vintage and said he knew of many others placed in th. same position through inability to a • quire a new car. Eaeh year saw an Lncreasing number of old cars gro .>• older with a diminishing prospect oi replacement under the import controi policy of the Labour Governmenl whicii annarentlv did not appreciate

the true position. Farmers living away^ back fro.m tlie centres requifed tran.-v' 001 1 not only for their business bu; also to bring their families to town an.l it was not right that they should be expected to rely on worn out and delapidated cars when overseas markets could supply every ueed. A suggestion had been made that. Federated Farmers shbuld make a suivey of the cars needed by farmers an- 1 then press for an ai'rangement whereby cars would be made available to satisfy requirements, such as was done when the niatter of tractors was takeu' u]> with the Government. \ The meeting carried a resolution fa vouring action towards securing recog nition of priority for farmers requiring i-new cars. hxbk ■■ ■■ DW — n i A