TRANSPORT OF GOODS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 273, 31 August 1935, Page 6

TRANSPORT OF GOODS

RAKAIA FARMERS’ COMPLAINT.

RESTRICTION ON CARRIERS

(Special to the “Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 30.

Farmers of the Rakaia district aie severe in their criticism of the licensing authority and its system of aU°eating road transport services. The reason for this was explained this morning by Mr A. Haslett, a. faimei living about three miles out of Rakaia, who made a special trip to Christchurch to see whether the difficulties with which residents of the district are faced could be met. Mr Haslett explained that it is practically impossible for any farmer in the Rakaia district to send produce to Christchurch by road. The Rakaia carriers are licensed to go only as far north as Bankside in one case and Dunsandel in the other. Through lorries to Christchurch from points further south than Rakaia invariably have full loads before reaching Rakaia and farmers cannot depend on them for that reason.

Mr Haslett said that casual privater ly-owned lorries frequently canvassed the district for loads to be taken to town, but the men were unknown' to the farmers, who were reluctant to trust their goods to them. Mr Haslett said he had arranged for temporary licenses to be issued for the Rakaia carriers to make occasional trips to Christchurch, but he hoped that something more satisfactory could be arranged.

QUESTION IN THE HOUSE. WELLINGTON, August 30. A thorough inquiry into the working of the Transport Act on- the ground that much dissatisfaction was felt about its administration was sought by a Government member in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr C. H. Clinkard (€., Rotorua) addressed a question on the subject to the Minister for Transport (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates), stating that the restrictions imposed on goods transport had not been contemplated in the legislation, and that it had not been intended to create the necessity for costly litigation.

“It took you a long time to find that out,” interjected Mr W. E. Parry (Lab,, Auckland Central).