MATERIALS BY ROAD

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21193, 16 August 1940, Page 2

MATERIALS BY ROAD

AERODROME CONSTRUCTION PETROL WASTE CHARGED (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) PALMERSTON Nth., Thursday The fact that materials for the construction of two new hangars at Ohakea aerodrome were being transported by road instead of by rail, thus using large quantities of petrol, was the subject of comment by the chairman, Mr W. E. Barber, at a meeting of the Manawatu County Council. Anticipating that the establishment of the aerodrome at Ohakea would largely increase the demand for the carriage of freight, the council had spent a considerable sum some months ago in strengthening the permanent way for its tram service, but in spite of that the Government apparently preferred to use the road.

Mr Barber said that certain steel work for the new hangars was being made in Wellington and sent by the Public Works Department by rail to Palmerston North and then by road to Ohakea. That action ignored the existence of a railway service right to the aerodrome, and seemingly ignored the Government’s call for the conservation of petrol. If the rail were used much petrol could be saved. Another instance concerned materials which came from Auckland for the aerodrome. These were railed from Auckland to Feilding and then sent to Ohakea by road transport, which called for considerable quantities of petrol. Why the materials were not sent to Palmerston North and then on by rail to Ohakea over the Sanson tramway system he could not understand, said Mr Barber, nor could he appreciate the Government allowing such a state of affairs to exist in the face of its rationing of petrol.