CO129-626-9 Wholesale vegetable marketing scheme 1-2-1951 - 30-11-1951 — Page 95

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of adequate transport is a vital factor in ensuring steady prices

by the guarantee of regular supplies.

مر

2. The Organisation at present has a transport fleet consisting

of sixteen 5-ton diesel-engine lorries and thirty-two 3-ton petrol-

engine lorries. The diesel lorries were purchased under C.D. and W.

Scheme D.1066 (reference is invited to memorandum C.D.W.A.C.41298 of

and the Anlage Smach's other to the Mackay of 2nd Jamme 13th January, 1949) (uring the past twelve months, these-lerries and have proved most suitable for this type of work. The petrol lorries

are ex-military vehicles which the Organisation hires from the Public

Works Department. These petrol lorries are nearly worn out and, with

and

[18

ོ་

-/48.0

19uq), 300-149)

gug).

-g

There are seldom more than twonly table lovenes avareable spare parts now difficult to obtain the Public Works Department is accnduply

anxious to take the vehicles off the road. It is intended to replace them

the thirty-two 3-ton petrol lorries, seldom more than twenty of

which are available due to the need for repairs and lack of spåre

parts, (by fifteen 5-ton diesel lorries. Only in this way can the

present efficiency of the wholesale marketing system in Kowloon be

maintained.

3.

(now)

The ten per cent commission charged is sufficient to cover the running costs of the Organisation but there is no room for margin for

heavy capital expenditure which might tend to embarrass the Organisation'

operations, and during this period of strict economy Government cannot

afford to spend money on a scheme of this kind which wiH eventually be

controlled by a co-operative society. It will, however, be several

years before this transference to co-operative control is accomplished

and meanwhile the Organisation will be under direct governmental

administrative and financial control.

It is

is provide

acer way

Ass

3. The present application is therefore for assistance totalling

£18,750

be

purchase fifteen 5-ton

of

diesel lorries, against the sixteen lorries purchased for the same

I compared with

amount in 1949. The increase in price is in keeping with the general sisse cool

increase in prises. Although the Organisation has insufficient funds

to allow for large capital expenditure it is desirable that it should

prosed

shoulder some responsibility. It is therefore suggested that

following the wrangement

financial aid be similar to that under Scheme D. 1066 in which hair

/ the amotance