RIVAL SERVICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 170, 20 July 1935, Page 11

RIVAL SERVICES.

TRANSPORT IN NORTH.

SHIP, MOTOR AND RAILWAY.

COMMENT BY AUTHORITY.

The statement that he and his colleagues had come to the same conclusion, that the transport control facilities were "very lop-sided," was made to-day by the chairman of the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr, W. Jones. "Here we are to-day sitting in judgment on the lorry side of the question," he remarked. "The railway and the water

services are in a position to object, but we have no control over them."

Mr. K. M. Carstens, on behalf of the Northern Steamship Company, Ltd., opposed the renewal of several licenses. It was the first occasion the company had appeared before the authority to record objections.' Mr. Carstens said that the east coast from Auckland to the Far North had since the early days been served by frequent boat services, and numbers of these services were still being maintained, but it was becoming very difficult to continue running some services against the motor competition. The Northern Steamship Company had for years maintained a service to Warkworth and the service to-clay was run twice weekly. The boat is capable of handling four or five times the amount of cargo usiiallv carried. If necessary the number of trips per week could be increased. A weekly service was maintained to Matakana. Water carriage was recognised as being the cheapest mode of transport, and the company contended that most of the area could adequately be served by boat to the nearest wharf. Freight could be delivered by local carriers from the wharves.

Contrast in Freight Costs. In noting the objection the chairman made the remarks quoted above. He mentioned that a truck load of goods freighted from Auckland to Whangarei cost" £7, but the Mine amount from Auckland to Cambridge would cost £22 or £23. . '' Mr. Carstcns referred to lite company s rates of freight, aud expressed the opinion that there should be co-ordina-tion between all three modes of transport. The chairman said that they endeavoured to bring about such co-ordina-tion. The public had to be served, and he was satisfied that the trucks were a convenience to the people. Licenses Renewed. Renewals of licenses were granted, without amendment, to a number of applicants. An application from W. L. Bayliss, Kaipara Flats, was opposed by Mr. Carstcns on behalf of the Northern Company. Ltd., in respect to the carriage of goods from Auckland to Warkworth. Mr. F. G. Craig, for the Railway Department, also objected to the renewal, on the grounds that the license was originally granted for the carriage of tea-tree and had since developed into one for the carriage of general goods, in opposition to the railway. The license was renewed. Renewals of goods service licenses, with amendments, were granted to the following applicants: A. T. Roke, R. Edwards, and M. H. Fletcher. A route license via No. 356 highway, including the Helensville town district, was granted J. C. Peterson, of Ivaipaia Flats, the applicant being restricted to one trip a uay and permitted to carry all clause* of goods excepting livestock.