FIRST MOVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 88, 15 April 1933, Page 9

FIRST MOVE.

GOODS TRANSPORT

LICENSES BEFORE MAY 1.

SUBMISSION or RETURNS,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

Every truck operator in the Dominion is being circularised by the Department of Transport, calling attention to the requirements under the recently - gazetted regulations, which form the first instalment of a system of controlling goods services, with the view to giving efficient but more economic results than under the present system, with its frequent duplication.

No drastic changes will be soen for a year, but all truck operators who run over a route outside the boundaries of the Auckland, Christcliurch, Wellington and Dunedin areas are required to make application for licenses prior to May 1. These will be granted automatically, and a year hence the renewal will, if experience with passenger services is to be followed, depend on the nature of the service being rendered, its regularity, and the element of necessity. License fees are payable in respect to every goods vehicle used, ranging from £2 for a continuous service down to 2/6 where a temporary vehicle license is required.* The seasonal license will'cost £1 per vchicle. Details needed by the Transport Department include the route used, description of goods carried, and full details of the charges, also the frequency of the trips.' Information is required in great detail regarding the financial side of the operations of licensees, and this will ultimately be of value in carrying out the future plan of operating road transport on an economic basis, for there is power to fix charges when the authorities are in a position to do so equitably, in the interests of the whole industry. That this is the objective is shown from the nature of the information required. A schedule is requested showing the mileage per vehicle, number of empty trips, running costs, standing charges, and overhead costs per vehicle mile. A revenue account has also to be set out, and the expenditure analysis asked for will show the detail of running costs, license fees, wages, management costs, interest, insurance, advertising, and other charges, including depreciation. This informationAjs regarded as confidential, though when the national statistics are compiled, the individual details will, of course, be aggregated.