GOODS TRANSPORT SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23818, 11 December 1942, Page 4

GOODS TRANSPORT SERVICE

CRITICISM AT GERALDINE

"It seems a wrong thing that private enterprise should bo squeezed off the road in favour of a State monopoly," said Cr. A, J. Burmestcr at the monthly meeting of the Geraldine Borough Council at which the Mayor (Mr D. C. McKechniei presided, "At the present time.” said Cr. Burmestcr, ”750 x 20 truck tyres cannot be purchased by goods transport companies and are available only for passenger services. For town deliveries, we see the authorities enforcing a zoning system throughout all cities with the idea of conserving the available truck tyres. If the tyre position is as serious as the authorities make it out to be, why are all available truck tyres not being conserved for lorries needed to transport produce. etc., from farms to rail? A call is being made for increased production, and it does not seem fair, nor is it consistent, that, in forcing goods transport off the route trips to Timaru, that passenger services should remain at normal. The passenger service to and from Geraldine to Timaru travels a total mileage of 750 per week. What is stated to be a war measure for goods transport should apply to passenger transport, otherwise these .statements on the lyre position do not coincide. As with carting goods to rail, a service would be still available every day for any person to travel to Timaru by rail and return the same day.” The following motion, proposed by Cr. Burmestcr, and seconded by Cr, Z. O. Shcrratt was carried unanimously; "That this council urges the Government to apply the same restriction to passenger services as to goods services between Geraldine and Timaru, and on all other routes if the truck tyre position is as serious os staled. The council emphasises that rail facilities are available daily for both goods and passengers, and tyres should be reserved for the carting of farm produce in rural areas with a view to keeping up production.”

A further resolution, moved by the Mayor and seconded by Cr. P, H, Davis, "that the Railway "Department be urged to introduce a combined rail and bus fare of 5s return from Geraldine 1o Timaru, via Oran, comparable with (he existing bus fare from Geraldine to Timaru,” was carried unanimously.