DAIRY FACTORY TRANSPORT

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26857, 9 October 1952, Page 6

DAIRY FACTORY TRANSPORT

BANKS PENINSULA COMPANIES

OPERATOR’S REQUEST FOR LICENCE REFUSED

The existing Gpef&tof was entitled to protection, and he had ns hesitation in making that statement, said the No. 9 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr J. A. Btetherton) at a sitting in Christchurch yesterday, when an application for a licence to do transport work for two Banks Pehinsula dairy factory companies Was considered.

The application, which was refused, Was made by Theodore Percival Robinsdh and Theodore Whuia Wharaki Robinson, trading as T. P. Robinson and Son. Little River; and wafe for an amendment to an existing licence authorising the carriage of general goods for the Barry’s Say Co-operative Dairy Factory Company, Ltd., and the Takamatua Co-operative Dairy Factory Company, Ltd. A previous application by Robinson and Son had been adjourned so that further evidence could be presented. Robinson and Son. who had held a licence tb carry general goods for the Wairewa Dairy Company, were the successful tenderers for the carriage of goods for the Barry’s Say and Takamatua Co-operative Dairy Companies. The application was opposed' by Cook’s Freight, Ltd. (Mr R. A. Young). Submissions by Applicant The authority had indicated at the end of the adjourned hearing that he would appreciate some evidence on the fiiiancia! position and physical ioility of the applicants to carry out the w_ork, said Mr Haywood. To Mr Haywood. Theodore Percival Robinson said he had carried out the Cartage contracts for the two dairy factories since the last sitting of the authority. He had experienced no difficulty in doing the work. To Mr Young, Robihson Said he had not yet experienced a busy period With the- cartage of cheese products, but that the busy period Was starting how.

Work at the dairy factories would occupy no more than three days a week, said Robinson. He had already transported a large quantity of coal. Samuel James McPherson Stewart a supplier and director of the Barry’s Bay Dairy Company, said his company considered that Robinson and Son were capable of carrying out the work Required. The directors of the company or suppliers would assist Robinson with a truck in cast of an emergency. He considered that the work don so far had been rtiost satisfactory. Application Opposed Mr Young said that Robinson held a limited licence, and that he was able to Carty only goods for the Wairewa Co-operative Dairy Company. In addition to the licence he also had a substantial farrti at Wainui and another at. Little River. Robinsob Was prepared to carry goods at a cheaper rate than Cook’s Freight, Ltd. Mr Cook had explained that he had been faced With the difficulty of carrying goods Without a full load. A loss of £lOO9 in revenue would be serious. a P „ milWt result in a reduction of staff.

So many farmers were equipping themselVefe with heavy trucks that they were making Conditions difficult for the area operator, Mr Young said. Yet the fafmerg still expected the area operator to borvide an ade- . service. Robinson had not proved that another service was necesfiary. All he had proved was *hat he was charging less than Cook’s Freight, Ltd. It seemed clear that it was necessary to have two trucks to carry on the business which Robinson sought, said Mr Young. The History of transport on Banks Peninsula had been one of failure, but since Cook’s Freight, Ltd. had taken over the work there had been no complaints. .. .“? e licence sought Was granted, it might put Cook’s Freight, Ltd. out of business, or at least restrict the company’s activities, Mr Young said. Mr Cook would agree to the investigating Officer of the Transport Department taking out an analysis of carrying costs on the penihsuia, and estimating a fair charge for dairy factory work. Mr Haywood Replies Mr Cook had had 12 years to become firmly established in business, said Mr Haywood. He suggested that Cooks Freight, Ltd. had too many licences and too few drivers to operate them. By charging less, Robinson would be performing a public duty, as the public would be getting cheaper goods. It had not been alleged that transport on Banks Penuinsula had not been adequate, but it was inadequate On an economic basis.

The applicant’s finance appeared reasonable and adequate, but it was only one consideration among a great many, said the authority. Robinson had not attempted to prove that existing transport was not adequate. “I am bound to consider, as well as the farmirig community on the peninsula, the Urban community who depend on an established transport service to carry their goods,” said the authority. The existing transport operator’s interest must be considered, said the authority. From his own knowledge and from evidence he had heard In applications, he was satisfied that Cook’s Freight, Ltd., did the Wofk better than any new operator would do it. The loss of £lOOO from an ahtiUal revenue df betWeeh £15,000 and £20,000 would be very considerable. Robinson’s costs were less than Cook’s said the authority, but he was not satisfied that the former were fair ones. Robihson was prepared to operate with a disregatd for union hdUrs, and to use a remuneration system which would not be used by Cook’s Freight, Ltd. The authority said he was not entirely satisfied that the service could be carried on with ohe truck, and the suggestion that the dairy farmers JvoUld put their trucks bn the road in an emergency, was quite illegal.