The Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JULY 19th, 1940. TRANSPORT COSTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 188, 19 July 1940, Page 4

The Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JULY 19th, 1940. TRANSPORT COSTS

FROM the remarks made at the recent meeting of farmers, called for the purpose of going" into the matter of transport costs in this district, it would appear as though the carrier, as situated at present, is between two fires, In the first place it seemed to be the honest conviction of the meeting that the average carrier was desirous of meeting and working in with the farmer, but to offset this other speakers stated that Government influence was being brought to bear on certain owners of trucks,, urging them to raise their charges, in spite of the fact that they themselves were quite willing to carry on at the rates now in operation. If this is a true reflection of the state of affairs as existing today, then State interference is to be keenly resented and. the possibility of socialisation in the realm of transport becomes more: definite. In these days of national emergency, in the face of the Government's repeated appeals for greater production, for greater individual effort and greater cooperation, it ill aifords one department to cause trouble by its interference in a service which plays an important part in the proseaution of our greatest primary industry. At the present juncture: there could be no greater loyalty shown the Empire than that displayed by the farmers of, this country, who now desire to effect a co-operative basis of agreement between carrier and producer which will overcome all differences and result in a reasonable return to bot'h parties. The example is Empire wide and the more it is put into practice the greater will be the solidarity of the people and the sounder the unity displayed towards the forces which are challenging our rights to live as we desire to live. The carriers themselves should welcome the move in the interests of mutual understanding and the establishment of rate charges which will never be held in dispute. Variation in the rate level will naturally follow from time to time; the main causes at present being the steady rise in the cost of petrol. Labour costs are not likely to rise beyond the present awards but there is a very probable tyre .shortage in the offing. These are factors which could be given mutual consideration, by say a joint committee of representatives from both the carriers and the district farmers. A fair and equitable basis, -should not be difficult to arrive at. Such a method is infinitely more desirable than the introduction of Government control, which appears to be rearing its head and exploring the possibilities. Farmeis as a whole can be expected to see the point cf view of the carriers readily enough, for the two have been closely as sociated for many years past. It is only a step closer to bring about a co-operative basis for fixing the charges which will be brought into effect from time to time. The plan is sound, logical and desirable, and caji only lead to a, closer, better understanding between the two sections concerned.