Allscott Beet-haulage Scheme to be Repeated
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STRONG criticism of the attitude of the L.M.S. Railway, during the collection of the sugar-beet crop last year, was voiced by farmers' representatives at Bridgnorth last week. The occasion was a meeting called by Mr. F. H. Paul, District Transport Officer for Shropshire,, who presided. There were also present, Mr. Sabatini, of the National Farmers Union headquarters, Mr. Stickland, the Union's representative in Staffordshire, and several other representatives from districts around the two sugar-beet factories at Allscott and Kidderminster; Mr. Mitchell, of the Ministry of Food; Messrs. Parkes and Thornhill, from the Allscott factory; Messrs. Kirkby and Mottram, from Kidderminster; Mr. G. F. Goodwin, secretary West Midland Area of A.R.O.; Messrs. Loosemoore of Shrewsbury, BignalI of Bridgnorth, and other sub-. district managers; and Mr. H. Scott Hall (S.T.R., The Commercial Motor Costs Expert).
Mr. Paul referred to the scheme which was put into operation last year, whereby it was arranged that sugar beet within a radius of 13 miles of each fac tory should be hauled by road and that outside the radius by rail. He said that he proposed to put a similar scheme into operation this year, and asked for suggestions for any improvement or amendment to be made at once.
In the keen discussion which followed it became evident that, so far as the Allscott factory was concerned, there was little complaint. The difficulties of " border-line cases," that is to say. farmers who, by reason of the situation of their holdings, objected to the form of transport which was imposed upon them, were dealt with satisfactorily by a 'committee formed for that purpose.
• At Kidderminster, however, there does not appear to have been any such committee; moreover, the L.M.S. Railway, according to views expressed by several farmers, was obdurate in that it was disinclined to give such assistance as was neceSsary for the satisfactory operation of the scheme.
Eventually, it was proposed and carried that a similar scheme be put into operation this year, with' a modification that the radius within which beet should he hauled by road was 'extended to 15 miles and that local ..committees be formed to deal with border-line cases in connection with beet for both factories.
The question of haulage rates was then raised. On behalf of the railway companies it was stated that the rate for haulage by rail would be the same as last year, plus 10 per cent. S.T.R. submitted a schedule of rates suitable for road haulage, but after a brief discussion it was decided that the question of rates should be dealt with by a small committee, comprising Mr. Mitchell of the Ministry of Food, Mr. Sabatini, and one other to represent the National Farmers Union, two representatives of the railway companies (G.W.R. and L.M.S.R.). Mr. Kinder of A.R.O., and Mr. H. Scott Hall. The committee met on Wednesday o this week at the headquarters of the N.F.U. in London. We will report on its findings shortly.