Rates Force Beet Back to Road
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FARMERS in Isle of Axholme, Lines, may have to send their sugar beet crop to the Brigg factory of British Sugar Corporation by road instead of rail, due to a decision by British Railways to increase the charges for this year's crop.
Mr. Ralph Kitson, secretary of the Isle of Axholme branch of the National Farmers Union. has taken up with his county headquarters at Lincoln the grave concern of the farmers, and British Railways are being asked to carefully reconsider the matter.
The farmers are now waiting for a reply before making any decision as to whether to send their beet by rail or to revert to road transport. In some cases the increase would be nearly 50 per cent. An example is at Belton, which handles close on 2,000 tons, and at this station the increase has jumped from I2s. to 17s. 3d. a ton.
Mr. Kitson says it is quite possible-that farmers will find they can no longer use the railways. Road transport charges on average are about I2s. a ton, plus a charge of Is. a ton for the use of elevators.
He stated: "Whereas the railway charges were very favourable up to last year, in many cases freight will now obviously be thrown straight over to road."
Magirus Production Up
THE Cologne. West Germany, menu
' facturer Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz AG has announced, for the financial year ended June 30, 1961, an increase of 22 per cent. in export sales of Magirus goods vehicles. A considerable increase in all goods vehicle sales is anticipated for the current financial year, following recent increases in Magirus production capacity.
Over the past financial year, sales of motorbuses and fire engines made by the concern rose by over 50 per cent, due mainly to demands for buses.