BACKBLOCKS CREAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1921, Page 8

BACKBLOCKS CREAM.

DIFFICULTY OF TRANSPORT. RAILWAY DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING. The difficulty experienced by some backcountry dairy farmers in getting their cream to the market was mentioned in the House of Representatives by Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei) on Tuesday. The cream was separated on the farms, said the fnember, and was carried to the nearest railway station. The reduction of the railway service had increased the difficulties of the men engaged in this form of production. The Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. H. Guthrie) said that the Railway Department had been considering this matter for some time. The department recognised the importance of doing everything possible for the men in the back country. It was unfortunate that these men had to send their cream to the factories less frequently than should be the case, with tjhe result that the cream was not in a condition acceptable to many of the factories. There were two factories in Wanganui that took any quantity of this cream, and some of the settlers in Taranaki were sending their cream to these factories. It was always acceptable there, and they got a rather better price than they would get elsewhere. Some of the factories had comi plained that the department was carrying i cream past their doors, but he believed that the first duty of the department was to the settlers, who could not always deliver their cream in the condition that was desirable. . . With regard to the Rangitikei district, added the Minister, the dairy companies made their arrangements to get the cream. They had made arrangements with the Railway Department, or had approached the department, with a view to getting the cream conveyed at certain times. department had tried to meet the wishes of the factories, but the alteration in the railway 'service had caused some difficulties to i arise. The railway /jfficers were doing all i that they could to right matters, and some inquiries were now being made.