PATUMAHOE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 452, 29 July 1919, Page 2

PATUMAHOE.

FARMERS AND TRANSPORT

A large meeting principally farmers and dairymen, convened by Mr J. Henry, was held in the Patumahoe Public Hall on Friday evening to discuss the effect of the traffic restrictions on essential industries, particularly dairying, imposed by the Railway Department. Considerable discussion took place the general opinion being tha'. the Minister and officials responsible for the present state, of affairs as now exists ; also, that the same want of realising the most essential requirement of the country was evident in the dsicrimination used in refusing carriage of various essential goods, more particularly dairying plant and suppliers. Mr Johns, president of the local branch of the Farmers' Union, expressed the opinion that if the present management of the railways is a specimen of the efficiency of Nationalization, the trend in that direction of our public utilities should be opposed, and as far as the railways were concerned, the sooner they were handed over to private enterprise the better. The meeting unanimously decided that the following resolution should be wired to the Minister and General Manager of Railways and the Minister of Supplies at Wellington. " That this meeting of farmers and dairymen of Paturaahoe emphatically protests against the railway restrictions prohibiting the carrying of dairying plant and supplies, and urges upon the Government the necessity of giving immediate preference to all dairying requisites ; otherwise this important industry in which the bulk of the farming population of the upper and lower Waikato is engaged will be seriously affected, farmers' produce will be rendered unmarketable, and the farmers prevented from meeting their local and national financial obligations."

The meeting also decided to wire to Mr J. Young, (M.P. for Waikato) commending his action during the present railway muddle, and emphasising the service he has rendered to the farming community by the stand he has taken with regard to the restrictions against the railage of dairying plant and suppliers'