GOODS TRANSPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 100, 1 May 1933, Page 3

GOODS TRANSPORT.

CARTAGE OF CREAM. OVERLAPPING PROBLEM. POWERS OF COMMISSION. ' (From Our Own Correspondent.) ' TE KUITI, Saturday. A meeting convened by the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of hearing the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. J. S. Hunter, outline the functions of the Transport Act and the position ; obtaining to-day as regards transport i was largely attended by carriers and . others interested in the transport of goods. Mr. S. Craig presided. Mr. Hunter, whose address followed the lines of others he has given, said , that during the past year, in passenger I transport, the licensing commissions ( had dealt with 800 licensee and 7,000,000 vehicle miles had been eliminated in road i passenger traffic, which meant a tremendous saving to the roads. It was now : necessary to eliminate the overlapping of goods services in the same way as passenger. That could be done without undue hardship. Mr. R. Milne, chairman of the Mara- ■ kopa Dairy Company, displayed a map > of Kawhia South district, showing the ' commissioner how the Marakopa dairy ; factory, centrally situated, was able to . handle 300 tone of butter, yet outside i companies were operating in the district ; on tortuous, narrow roads which the , settlers had striven for many years to ! have metalled. Two large companies were , only getting a email proportion of the , supply. One lorry actually went over , 45 miles of road for a few odd cans of cream. Mr. Hunter said the commission had power to stop such overlapping. It would ! be advisable for the suppliers of the dis- , trict to come to some arrangement, when , the area could be gazetted a special ■ cream carting area. ' More Use of Harbour? I Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., asked if , the Kawhia harbour could not be used I more, so as to take the load off the roads. j Mr. Milne intimated that it had been found more satisfactory to send the but- ' ter over the railway. Mr. Davis, ' chairman of the Oparau Dairy Company, said the position obtain- ' ing on the northern side of Kawhia har- ! bour was similar to that at Marakopa, ' on the southern side. When the Kawhia ' Harbour Board was formed deputations ' came from all parts'of the harbour ask- ' ing for landing facilities. 'There was 1 no talk of roads or railways then, and 1 loans were raised to provide those facili- ' ties. When the dairy factory was built metalled roads - became necessary and settlers pledged themselves to a rate to ' provide the necessary metalled road. Did . the proprietary companies come in duri ing those early days? No! declared the i speaker. "I claim that so long, ae the : local factories are run in an economical and fair manner they have a legitimate right to the cream." Temporary Licenses. Mr. Hunter said he would be pleased to go into the matter. Something might be done by way of a harmonious agreement. Otherwise more arbitrary powers would intervene. The commission had power to fix charges and would always do so in the event of a monopoly being given. Temporary lice."jes could be obtained for those who wished to make journeys out of their areas. Mr. R. W. Neal, chairman of the Piopio Dairy Company, cited an instance where a man had been carrying the mail and an odd passenger down a country road. The carrier did not consider it worth while to take out a passenger license and had ceased. There were one or two settlers there who did not own cars to whom this was a hardship. "The board can make special conditions in cases like that," Mr. Hunter replied, "and if you will give me the man's name and address the matter will be fixed up."