RAILWAY CURTAILMENT.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 142, 24 July 1919, Page 4

RAILWAY CURTAILMENT.

Matamata Farmers Protest. A meeting to discuss the position of dairy farmers in view of the effect the curtailment of the railway service is having on dismantled dairy factories, and those in course of erection, was well attended in Matamata on Friday aftemoon. The chairman of the Matamata branch of the Farmers' Union, Mr H. Rollett (convenor) stated that overtures should be made to the Government emphasising the necessity of lifting the restrictions on material necessary for the dairy factories.-In fairness to the country Ministers should state if this was possible, as every day lost made the position more serious. He suggested that factory requisites should be carried even if carriage of farm implements was discontinued. Those responsible should know the position without dilly-dally-ing with conferences. Mr E. C. Banks also spoke strongly 1 on the matter, stating that the Waharoa factory, to , which many farmers were looking to supply this season was now very muoh delayed and to his mind could not be finished by Christmas. Many of these suppliers, were last year supplying the cheese faotories at Matamata and Turanga-o-moana, which were now in the course of being dismantled. The position was becoming very serious to farmers especially those who had recently purchased properties. Many of the latter were returned soldiers to whom a good start with the season was most necessary. A .jwpjtipn was carried and forwarded to the Minister for Railways, the General Manager and the •Minister for Supplies. "That this meeting of farmers and dairymen of the Matamata district urges upon the Government the vital and urgent necessity that quick relief be given to co-opera-tive dairy companies by the carriage on the railways of such machinery and materials as are essential to get ready for the new seasons milk supply."