COMPETITION IN CARRYING BUSINESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 102, 1 May 1937, Page 8

COMPETITION IN CARRYING BUSINESS

(To the Editor.)

: Sir,—lt may hot be generally known that-the Railway Department-has a service in competition with' the local carriersj. the Government lorries collecting : goods 'in'the city and also undertaking household rempvals. In: the-report of the Government Committee on: Town Carriers published in your paper. this,;week,' it was admitted that this competition is adding to the carriers" difficulties.'■, ;.;. :/:

As a;master carrier," I:have to realise that we-have. to.put up; with .this, but I: am ..reliably informed .that, although under/our;awardourlorry- di'ivers have had to be/paid since last July the same wages as in. 1931, viz.,'from £4/13s_6d to £5; the;Railway^ Department,:' doing; the same;work with'the same class of lorries, /are still: paying a flat' wage amounting to only -, £4 Bs, compared iwith their wage 0f...£4V16s prior : to .1931. In addition to this, the Department is: able to. work: -its" /drivers: on > four days which - the'carriers': are to observe as',; holidays,' for which they have'to; pay.'.. . v ■i/11:. ■ ./';:.

■'( Apparently 5 what .is sauce;;for /the, goose is riot.sauce for thegander, and: whilst we all know how busy the Mm-/ ister has beenj' I' think 'it. would be: of public/ interest at this time' if. Mr.: Sulli-i----van would- explain how/ this-sort of competition is' fair.—l am, etc.', .:■•.-: . ; ■

A MASTER CARRIER.