SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 452, 30 March 1912, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS.

A SERIOUS DRAWBACK. MEETING AT TE KUITJ. In view of the very great inconvenience and hardship experienced lately in the district through the inability of the Railway Department to supply trucks for the carriage of stock to various centres a public meeting was called at Te Kuiti on Wednesday last to discuss the situation. Major Lusk was called to the chair and explained that the meeting was called for the purpose of getting together members of the Farmers' Union Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Chamber of Commerce, etc., so that a fully representative gathering might unitedly endeavour to have certain grievances removed under which the community was suffering, and improvements effected. They could only hope to succeed by earnest and united action, and in this connection he strongly urged upon all country residents the desirability of joining and zealously supporting the Farmers' Union as the best medium for safeguarding their own interests and obtaining full"recognition of their reasonable requirements. The first matter considered was the lamentable shortage of railway trucks for the transport of stock. Mr R. Somcrville, referring to this stated that for a long time back the settlers of the district, in fact, of the whole King Country had suffered immense loss and inconvenience through the constant delays in obtaining trucks, even after weeks' notice of requirement, and that many thousands of sheep in consequence could not be forwarded in time to the auction sales while in many cases the slock were kept a lone; time penned in yards without, food to the great depreciation of their valii". Mr Mosiyn done; 3 , secretary of the Chamber of. Commerce, stated that the same evils were bitterly complained of in (he Keilding district, from which he lately came, and pointed out. the great less not only to the farmon-:, but So the Dominion at largo ihroudi Cue frequent happening of large consignments of fat lambs intended for export being turned into store condition through these vexatious (ielavs run! sent back to the .jM-n-.-.iei-:. Co suggested that frequent stock trains be sent; through at night. Mr Soinerville moved that the secretaries of the Kami era' Union A. and }'. Assoc;;-,(ion and the Chamber of Commerce write to all their various branches in Auckland province with a view (o gain joint action in regard (o obtaining better facilities for trucking stock. Mr C.adsby president of the King Country A. and P. Association commented upon (lie very dirty state of the trucks supplied and stated that the spread of lice and other vermin through the flocks of the country was lare;elv due to this.

j\lv "iJadsby moved that repesentat.ion:- be niinii- in the proper quarter and 11n- Railway Department be requested in have the, stock trucks frequently sprayed with vermin destroyin:: wash. Carried. Moved by Mr Mostyn Jones, that a committee In- set up consisting of Major busk iomwnor), Messrs Gadsby, iNioslvr, .iones, Muaaen, Vercoe and O'Brien, to fake stops necessary to bring upon the Railway nopartnion; with :i view to remedying existing evils. Major I ,n;:k. as president of the Fanners' Union, referred to the dan•or to all producers through the ex,,i i n ition if certain labour n u , t u i biocl tlio handling, m \ i nl mi pint of the far ~, , n ] in' n ul( an urgent i, j i ' ' mitt settlers to v ii ii\ <i( co opera , t (i i ( (ii ii protecting , ,1 \ i i iii olit fining the , iii i iin for nduct , I u i H'l undoubb dlv I t t ] ) I ii mill) II <l\ unl In ilb u| i 'n II mini i imn oi \ w t 1 In i irmti ' ,1 u lib iii n i"i md ( i t inh i ui ti \ i " lni ' i lui 1r mi ih ( i inn i' <h s tho\ c< ul 1 inm i ' <b V it unh \ \ntui n<)n ~ " < ii'