MONOPOLIES IN TRANSPORT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22305, 20 January 1938, Page 12

MONOPOLIES IN TRANSPORT

VIEW OF FARMERS’ UNION

APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT n DISCUSSED tr»l»3 4890CHTI0M TSI.IOBXM.) WELLINGTON. January 19. Conferring yesterday with the executive of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance, Mr A, P. O’Shea, secretary of the New Zealand Farmers Union urged that the strongest representations should be made to the Government against the trend toward the creation of transport monopolies. Explaining the view of the union, Mr O’Shea said it was felt that with transport taking the form of monopoly whether under the direction of the Stale or in a private company, there was a danger of imperfect service. Mr O’Shea added that the union was not necessarily opposed to voluntary cooperation or co-ordination schemes under which individuals could pool their services to increase efficiency by elimination of dead mileages and the securing of better balancing of traffic but it was a different thing entirely to force mergers which virtually created monopoly control over all transport arrangements. The policy of single-ownership whether by the State or by private companies was exceptionally dangerous. and contained all the elements giving rise to immediate future troubles. Subject to no hindrance being offered to voluntary co-operation, the Transport Alliance endorsed the views expressed by the Farmers’ Union and it was sai/d that it was further hoped that the Union would associate itself with carriers’ associations in mutually striving for conditions which would give stabilised transport, blended to the needs of every locality.