FARMERS PROTEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1939, Page 7

FARMERS PROTEST

PAYMENT OF HEAVY TRAFFIC LICENCES CARRIAGE OF CREAM TO FACTORY. DISCUSSION AT CARTERTON , BOROUGH COUNCIL. , (“Times-Age” Special.) “Portions of this' letter are definitely incorrect as I have made careful inquiries regarding their accuracy.” said the Mayor of Carterton, Mr. D. L. Taverner, at the monthly meeting of the Carterton Borough Council last night, when a letter from the Wairarapa branch of the National Dairy Association, protesting against the heavy traffic licence fees being imposed on dairy farmers, was being considered. "The portions that state, ‘if the council waived its authority in the matter the Highways Board would not enforce it.’ and ‘in other districts dairy farmers are not requird to take out heavy traffic licences’ are wrong,” said Mr. Taverner.

Councillor J. Udy said he considered it unfair that the farmer had to pay the licence for taking his milk to the factory. Councillor W. A. Hart: “It is no use us trying to do anything on our own. .The only way to overcome the difficulty will be by a conference between the local bodies and others concerned." Councillor Udy: "But we can help the appeal on.” Mr. Taverner: "The Highways Board has no option but to enforce the licences. It is the law and all districts are the same. I understand the High ways Department has been approached on this matter. They cannot give the farmer a licence to carry milk only; it has to be a general licence. Otherwise theer is nothing to prevent the farmer from carrying goods for his neighbours.” . Cr. Udy "They can do that with, a horse and cart." Counciltor L. Clark: "There are plenty of farmers who buy a drum of petrol for farm use and use it in their lorries, so they get away with it that way.” Mr. Taverner: "We don’t do the licensing. All we do is to carry out the law. The farmers will have to approach the authorities who are responsible for the licensing. I think we should inform the farmers that they should approach the Highways Board or Transport Department.” Councillor Udy: "Could we add that we are in sympathy with them?” Mr. Taverner: “I don’t know that we are.” Mr. Taverner’s suggestion was framed as a motion and carried.